Handel’s Italian chamber duets that eventually became four of the most famous choruses in the MESSIAH, now set to the oratorio’s libretto. Sing “For unto us a child is born,” “And he shall purify,” “His yoke is easy,” and “All we like sheep” in their original duet form—perfect for church jobs, recitals, and holiday concerts! The scores feature a wonderful continuo realization by none other than Johannes Brahms, and comes with the duets’ original Italian texts, too. Available in PDF or in hard-copy format, in original high keys and transposed lower keys. Duetto XVI: No, di voi non vo’ fidarmi • No, di voi non vo’ fidarmi (For unto us a child is born) • Altra volta incantenarmi • So, per prova i vostri inganni (All we like sheep) Duetto XV: Quel fior che all’alba ride • Quel fior che all’alba ride (His yoke is easy) • È un fior la vita ancora • L’occaso ha nell’aurora (And he shall purify) Background: The chamber duet, or duetto da camera, was a particularly popular genre throughout Europe during the baroque era, established in the late seventeenth century by Italian composers Alessandro Scarlatti, Agostino Steffani, among others. George Frideric Handel wrote many of these chamber duets over a period of 40 years, starting during his time in Italy from 1706-1710, in Hanover around 1711, and then again the 1740’s. Handel completed the two duets presented here, “No, di voi non vo’ fidarmi” (HWV 189) and “Quel fior che all’alba ride” (HWV 192), in July of 1741, several weeks before he received the libretto of what would become his most famous work, The Messiah, which would later have it’s premiere in April of 1742 in Dublin, Ireland. The inspiration Handel found in these two duetti da camera while composing The Messiah is clear, and thus, the duets are presented here in a new arrangement with the oratorio’s libretto for the pure enjoyment of singing these famous choruses in the melodies’ original duet form. The middle movements of both duets are included here in this edition without modification for the benefit of having the original Italian version in its entirety. This score is based on the edition produced by the German Handel Society (Händel-Gesellschaft) in the 19th century, featuring a continuo realization by none other than Johannes Brahms. Edition no.: HR 1004a (high) / HR 1004b (low) ISMN: 979-0-800140-01-3 (high) / 979-0-800140-03-7 (low) Composer: Handel, George Frideric Title: Messiah Chamber Duets (high/low) Detailed instrumentation: Two high voices, Basso continuo / Two low voices, Basso continuo Volume / Series: Handel Reductions Libretto: Jennens, Charles (English), Anonymous (Italian) Arranger: Sokolowski, Christopher Editor: Brahms, Johannes Product format: Vocal score Language(s) of work: Italian, English setting provided Duration (approx.): 00:11:00 Publisher: Ossia Editions Binding: Paperback Print run: 1st printing 2017 Additional information to the print run: n/a Pages / Format: II, 28p. – 8.5×11 in.
