Judas Maccabaeus HWV 63

Scoring: 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Fg, 2 Cor, 3 Tr, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Bc

First critical edition.

The oratorio Judas Maccabaeus is one of George Frideric Handel’s most popular choral works. It was performed over fifty times during the composer’s lifetime and was one of his first works to be performed in Germany (1772). The frequent performances given by Handel himself resulted in a particularly large number of reworkings, reflecting local conditions.

This new edition therefore offers the work in two performable versions: firstly, the version of the first performance in 1747, and the one from the last oratorio season during Handel’s lifetime (1758/59). This makes available all the choruses and arias which Handel ever wrote for Judas Maccabaeus. Reflecting the latest Handel research, the edition is based for the first time throughout on Handel’s conductor’s score, thereby eradicating not only long-perpetuated mistakes, but also providing clarity about which pieces were actually performed by Handel.

By contrast with the Chrysander edition obligatory until now, the aria "Father of heav’n" which introduces Part III is included here in its original, longer version.