XXIV Overtures for Violins, &c. in Eight Parts as they were Perform’d at the King’s Theatre [AND] Six Overtures for Violins, &c. in Eight Parts from the Oratorios.

HANDEL, George Frideric.

$2,000.00

Item Number: 146573

London: Printed for I. Walsh, c. 1760.

Rare second and third edition collection of overtures by the greatest composer of the “high baroque” style. Quarto, five volumes, original half calf over marbled boards with hand-written paper labels to the front panel, engraved throughout with sheet music. The collection includes three volumes containing a second edition of XXIV Overtures as they were Perform’d at the King’s Theatre, a second set of XXIV Overtures for Violins &c. in Eight Parts from the Oratorios, and the 9th and 10th collections of Six Overtures; one volume containing just the second edition of XXIV Overtures at the King’s Theatre and the second set of XXIV Overtures; and one volume containing the third edition of XXIV Overtures, a second set of XXIV Overtures, and the 9th and 10th collections of Six Overtures. In good condition with rubbing to the extremities, some loss to the spines, and splitting to the hinges. A rare collection, altogether containing sixty Overtures, plus music for the Celebrated Water Musick, & Musick for the Royal Fireworks.

Born the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti, German, later British, composer George Frideric Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, with works such as Alexander's Feast, Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks remaining steadfastly popular. Austrian composer Joseph Hadyn's rivalling contributions to musical form earned him the epithets "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet". His earlier works were heavily influenced by Handel and he was a friend and mentor of Mozart, a tutor of Beethoven, and the older brother of composer Michael Haydn.