This perennial favourite needs no introduction but this edition does. At the première of ‘Solomon’ in 1749, Handel had unusually large forces at his disposal, and his autograph score is rich in detailed instructions for when his ‘Ripieni’ players should and should not participate, even as to which part they should double. This edition reproduces these directions in full, as far as we know, for the first time.

This spine-chilling piece given a suitably spine-chilling arrangement. There is also an arrangement for string quartet.