Asako Ogawa, the performer on this album, is a versatile keyboardist based in London, performing on virginals, harpsichord, fortepiano, and modern piano.
Interpretation
The Suites on this recording are not played in numerical order but follow an instinctive sense of musical order based on key and flow, starting with Suite No. 1.
Composition History
Handel obtained a Royal Privilege, granting him 14 years of exclusive rights to publish his own compositions, after pirate editions of his works appeared.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Handel's Suites demonstrate a blend of Italian, French, and German styles, reflecting the diverse influences he absorbed during his travels.
Compositional Technique
For the London publication of his Suites, Handel not only revised movements but also made wholesale substitutions and notably included fugues, which were not typical for the dance-based suite genre.
Composition History
Handel's "8 Great Suites for Harpsichord" were first published in 1720 by John Cluer to combat pirate editions of his earlier works.
Composer Biography
George Frideric Handel, a virtuoso keyboard player, wrote keyboard music throughout his life, including 22 suites, despite his primary focus on opera and oratorio.
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