Concerto in Bb (piano reduction)

Harp and piano reduction.

“This edition was prepared from a photostat of the original manuscript in the British Museum entitled in Handel’s own hand “Concerto per la Harpa”.  It contains no chords not indicated by Handel in the figured bass.  There are, however, some octave doublings, reinforced thirds and fifths and changes of register to avoid thin sonority…

“Since performers of today are not prepared to improvise ornaments freely from a manuscript text nor to improvise cadenzas, it seemed judicious to provide both.  In doing so, we were guided by the absolute clarity of Bach; by the warning of his son, Karl Philip Emanuel, that extravagant use of ornamentation is to be avoided…the performer should be guided by the inherent quality of the instrument used…

“I am indebted to Egon Kenton for his help and suggestions in preparing this edition.  Also to Dewey Owens for his cadenza and piano reduction of the orchestra score.”  Lucile Lawrence