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George Frideric Handel on drums

It was nice with this page to be able to present examples of Handel's work from the wide range of musical forms in which he engaged so prolifically, including concerto, oratorio in the form of the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah, opera and of course the water music.

For these pieces the steel drums have been combined in different ways with Marimba, growling Moog synthesizer and for Sheba's Arrival Pan flutes and Ocarinas. This gives a crisp feel to the music, minimising the trailing edges of the baroque flourishes and helping to expose the underlying counterpoint and harmony.

The Concerti Grosso are emphasized by reviewers as some of the most sophisticated expression of his genius and it was satisfying to find that our approach worked well here as well.

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