Handel, Van Wassenaer: Concerti grossi & 6 Concerti Armonici

CD1

1. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 6, HWV 324: I. Larghetto e affectuoso
2. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 6, HWV 324: II. Allegro ma non troppo
3. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 6, HWV 324: III. Musette
4. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 6, HWV 324: IV. Allegro
5. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6 No. 6, HWV 324: V. Allegro
6. Handel: Concerto Grosso in A Minor, Op. 6 No. 4, HWV 322: I. Larghetto affectuoso
7. Handel: Concerto Grosso in A Minor, Op. 6 No. 4, HWV 322: II. Allegro
8. Handel: Concerto Grosso in A Minor, Op. 6 No. 4, HWV 322: III. Largo e piano
9. Handel: Concerto Grosso in A Minor, Op. 6 No. 4, HWV 322: IV. Allegro
10. Handel: Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6 No. 2, HWV 320: I. Andante Larghetto
11. Handel: Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6 No. 2, HWV 320: II. Allegro
12. Handel: Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6 No. 2, HWV 320: III. Largo
13. Handel: Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6 No. 2, HWV 320: IV. Allegro ma non troppo
14. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6 No. 1, HWV 319: I. Atempo giusto
15. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6 No. 1, HWV 319: II. Allegro
16. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6 No. 1, HWV 319: III. Adagio
17. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6 No. 1, HWV 319: IV. Allegro
18. Handel: Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6 No. 1, HWV 319: V. Allegro

CD2

1. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 4 in G Major: I. Largo
2. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 4 in G Major: II. Da capella - Non presto
3. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 4 in G Major: III. Largo affettuoso
4. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 4 in G Major: IV. Allegro
5. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 2  in B-Flat Major: I. Andante
6. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 2  in B-Flat Major: II. Presto - Da capella
7. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 2  in B-Flat Major: III. Adagio affettuoso
8. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 2  in B-Flat Major: IV. Allegro moderato - Mezzo forte
9. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 5 in F Minor: I. Adagio - Largo
10. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 5 in F Minor: II. Da capella
11. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 5 in F Minor: III. Con sordino
12. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 5 in F Minor: IV. A tempo giusto
13. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 3 in A Major: I. Grave - Sostenuto
14. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 3 in A Major: II. Da capella
15. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 3 in A Major: III. Largo - Andante
16. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 3 in A Major: IV. Vivace
17. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 1 in G Major: I. Grave
18. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 1 in G Major: II. Allegro
19. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 1 in G Major: III. Un poco andante
20. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 1 in G Major: IV. Allegro
21. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 6 in E-Flat Major: I. Affettuoso
22. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 6 in E-Flat Major: II. Presto
23. Van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico No. 6 in E-Flat Major: III. Vivace

Handel wrote his Corelli-inspired concerti grossi in 1739. He adopted the existing form for the genre, but achieved a new range of expression within it. Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer was a Dutch nobleman whose Concerti armonici of 1740 were long attributed to Pergolesi. (Indeed, Stravinsky quoted Wassenaer in Pulcinella thinking he was borrowing from Pergolesi.) Four independent violin parts contribute to their rich textures.

The distinguished Dutch keyboard-player and conductor Ton Koopman (b.1944) founded the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra in 1979. The group consists of internationally renowned baroque specialists.