Concert Band
Sinfonia aus dem Oratorium »Salomon«
Die Ankunft der Königin von Saba
The Arrival of the Queen of Saba
Info
George Frederic Handel composed his oratorio “Solomon” (HWV 67) within the space of only six weeks, between May 5th and June 13th 1748. The complete work for soloists, large choir and orchestra consists of an overture and 3 acts with 39 movements, including 13 choirs (some with soli) and 2 instrumental movements. The performance time is approximately 2 ½ hours. In itself a remarkable creative achievement – but presumably nothing extraordinary for Handel, whose entire catalogued oeuvre comprises a total of 612 works, including 40 operas and 25 oratorios.
In his oratorio “Solomon” Handel set Old Testament texts and passages from the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus to music. In the third act the Queen of Sheba, impressed by the “Solomonic” judgements of the king, travels to Jerusalem, where she and her followers are accorded a fitting welcome. This splendid, virtuoso music, set originally for 2 oboes and string orchestra, gives a wonderful impression of the significance of the occasion. The transcription by Albert Loritz has been arranged for 2 trumpets and concert band, an instrumentation which creates a tremendous effect and which might well have found Handel’s approval.