Handel’s Masterpieces | A Comprehensive Introduction to His Popular Works

Ombra mai fu (Largo)Georg Friedrich Händel

Largo — Ombra mai fu (Handel) Händel – Largo - Ombra mai fu – pianomaedaful

The aria Ombra mai fu, sung in the opera Serse composed by Baroque master Handel, is distinguished by its beautiful melodic line and delicate orchestration.

It is performed in the scene where King Xerxes addresses a plane tree he loves.

Handel’s masterful music richly conveys Xerxes’s feelings as he praises the tree’s gentle, lovely leaves and wishes to protect it from all danger, offering a slow, soothing balm to the listener’s heart.

Its expansive, dignified melody is a quintessential example of Handel—truly worthy of calling him the mother of music.

It’s also a highly recommended piece for those new to classical music.

Harpsichord Suite Book I No. 5 in E major, HWV 430, No. 4: “Air and Variations (The Harmonious Blacksmith)”Georg Friedrich Händel

Handel: The Harmonious Blacksmith, pianist Yuki Kondo / Händel: The Harmonious Blacksmith, Yuki Kondo

George Frideric Handel, the Baroque master known as the “mother of music.” After establishing himself in Hamburg and Italy, Handel moved his base to London, where he wrote a set of suites for the harpsichord—the keyboard instrument of the time—known as the Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin, First Collection.

Among them, the especially famous “The Harmonious Blacksmith” is beloved for its bright, cheerful, and lively character.

A simplified version with fewer notes is included in many beginner piano texts, making it a familiar piece at student recitals.

With its friendly melody that invites a relaxed and pleasant listening experience, this work is highly recommended for those looking to start the piano, as well as for parents who want their children to discover the joy of playing.

Harpsichord Suite, Second Collection, No. 4 in D minor, HWV 437 — No. 4 “Sarabande”Georg Friedrich Händel

Handel: Suite HWV 437 “Sarabande” / ヘンデル：組曲集より “サラバンド” HWV 437

George Frideric Handel, who had a profound influence on the development of Baroque music.

The Sarabande from No.

4 in his Second Set of Harpsichord Suites, written for the keyboard instrument harpsichord, is a compelling work that combines deep emotion and a solemn atmosphere while leaving considerable room for improvisation.

In performance, characteristically Baroque expression is required, such as adding distinctive ornamentation and weaving in subtle changes of tempo.

Alongside solid technique, it is a piece that tests a performer’s expressive ability to convey rich feeling.

Chaconne in G major, HWV 435Georg Friedrich Händel

Handel: Chaconne in G major, HWV 435

The Baroque-era composer George Frideric Handel began composing around the age of nine and quickly displayed his talent.

Among the masterpieces he created during his eventful life is the set of variations in chaconne form, the Chaconne in G major.

The variations unfold one after another as if viewing the theme from multiple angles, giving the impression that Handel’s wellspring of creativity never runs dry.

Its graceful, brilliant passages bring out the piano’s appeal to the fullest.

Though it demands advanced technique to perform, the more one practices, the more its rich musicality blossoms—truly a masterpiece.

Flute Sonata in G minorGeorg Friedrich Händel

Handel Flute Sonata / G minor / #Handel / Sonata in G minor #Flute

This is the Flute Sonata in G minor by George Frideric Handel, a German-born composer who was active in countries such as Italy and England.

It consists of four movements: a leisurely First Movement, Larghetto; a Second Movement, Andante, which conveys a sense of melancholy even amid motion; a short, roughly one-minute Third Movement, Adagio, that suggests an inner light leading to what follows; and a Fourth Movement, Presto, which bursts forth with a sense of liberation and lightness.

It is a classic masterpiece for flute that embodies the Baroque era.

Water Music, Suite No. 2 in D major, HWV 349: II. Alla HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel

Handel: “Alla Hornpipe” from Water Music — Pianist Yuki Kondo

Georg Frideric Handel, a giant of the Baroque era.

His works—including operas, oratorios, anthems, and concerti grossi—are all highly esteemed as pinnacles of Baroque music.

Among them, Water Music, written for the British royal family, is one of Handel’s signature pieces still heard everywhere today.

In particular, the Alla Hornpipe is a popular movement, memorable for its bright, rhythmic melody.

Famous for having been performed during a royal boating party on the River Thames, this work—scored with a brilliant, trumpet-forward instrumentation—captivates listeners from the first notes.

Its brilliance can be fully expressed on the piano as well, so do give it a try.

Make me cry.Georg Friedrich Händel

[Healing Piano] Let Me Weep — Handel — Piano Solo with Lyrics / Classical Music / Handel

The aria “Lascia ch’io pianga,” a work by the great German Baroque composer George Frideric Handel, is exceedingly famous.

It is a gem included in the opera Rinaldo.

Sung in the scene where the captive heroine Almirena longs for freedom and weeps in sorrow, its heartrendingly beautiful melody pairs wonderfully with the delicate timbre of the piano.

Performed at a recital or concert, it is sure to resonate deeply in the hearts of everyone—performers and audience alike.