every Handel bass aria ever

Seeing my family over the Easter weekend gave me the opportunity to ask my brother Hugo to record this for me. You can hear more of his luscious tones at / hugowickhambaritone
/ @hugowickham1846
the trumpet shall walk in ruddier darkness than the cherry
Find sheet music and more at freddywickhamm...
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[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

Many thanks to Hugo Wickham for his luscious tones (and breath control...) 🎼 Check him out at soundcloud.com/hugowickhambaritone

[@auldthymer]

Such a fine singer!

[@1000pollak]

As a sometime amateur baritone, I agree

[@flaze3]

Yeah, definitely sounded more like a baritone than a bass! Haha

[@kidkrowtaylor]

His voice is amazing!

[@ProfRonanMC]

Dear heaven - as a bass who slept through more Messiahs than I want to think about (this did not prevent me, or any of the choir, singing, but it kept us from the horror of the thing) this has Handel bang to rights. My trusty score had been used by many a chorister before me, and was thickly annotated. My favourites were at the end of a da capo aria someone had written "don't bother getting up, she's going to try to sing most of it again" and "wait for it : in 16 bars the tenors will f* up" and, 17 bars later "told you so".

[@nikkeisimmer8795]

I think I did the same with my Judas Maccabaeus score. 🤣

[@drakenheart51]

That F at the end is amazing.

[@corneliusnowicki5363]

There is no way that singer is a bass, that F was just way too good.

[@gaudenzwigger]

@@corneliusnowicki5363 Oh there's plenty of high F's in bass repertoire from any epoque and boy are they thrilling if sung well ;)

[@hugowickham1846]

@@corneliusnowicki5363 exposed, in truth I’m a baritone (boo hiss)

[@svilendenchev9984]

@@corneliusnowicki5363 Bass and Baritone were very lax terms in the Baroque era. Hell Baritone didn't exist as a term back then

[@RaineStudio]

@@hugowickham1846 How vulgar. 😉

[@MK-fd7jq]

I’m obsessed with Handel’s operas and this is both accurate and gently satirical. Love it!

[@brunoarturomendozavicente3775]

Same XD The first notes remembers me a little to Nell mondo nell'abisso

[@bahrss]

Ah, fellow Handel fan! What are your favourite operas by George Friedrich?)

[@brunoarturomendozavicente3775]

@@bahrss Rinaldo.Giulio Cesare,Ariodante,Ramerlano,Rodelinda,Orlando and Serse

[@adamferguson1064]

Messiah bass soloist here… can confirm the accuracy. 😂

[@MK-fd7jq]

@@bahrss Top favorite has to be Rodelinda. I also really love Ariodante, Alcina, Agrippina and Giulio Caesare

[@henrykwieniawski7233]

PLEASE do an “Every Bach Cantata chorus” :DDd

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

Not to speak too soon, but there is an iron in the fire in this vein (!)

[@henrykwieniawski7233]

@@FreddyWickhamMusic YES!! I’m so excited!! :DD I can’t wait!

[@OrpheoCT]

There’s no such thing 😌

[@TheOneAndOnlyZeno]

@@Nooticus But he does have a formula - at least in the opening Chorale Fantasias - long augmented chorale in the sopranos, with imitable counterpoint in the alto + tenor, with the bass more or less following the continuo. And throw in a god damn fugue in there!

[@nathanielouzana]

Do check out the beginning of "the seasonings" by pdq Bach if you want a similar kind of joke

[@stapler942]

Omg I love how you accurately portrayed the continuo and/or orchestral reduction being ever so slightly unwieldly for a pianist's hands.

[@charlietian4023]

The piano reduction for the Messiah that i have is so trash

[@peachykeen16]

I'm a bass. I was left wheezing, gasping for breath, my sides have split and my body is no longer intact. The sweet embrace of death has been brought on by laughing too hard at this video. You have done excellent work. Thank you.

[@johnchessant3012]

_thunderous applause_

[@bahrss]

As a big Handel fan, and somewhat a performer, I would say that this structural representation is perfectly correct😂👌

[@IzzyInkpen]

I laughed out loud multiple times, and only made better by the fantastic singing!

[@julino2145]

Most underrated channel on YT, I hope it will blow up soon. Keep the great work on🎵

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

If you'd told me six months ago that I'd have thousands of viewers per video I would not have believed you. So I count this as blowing up plenty!

[@pourint]

Another hilarious banger :D I'm wondering if you could do a parody of an English madrigal, or more parodies of modern choral works, or a Faure bacarolle, or perhaps even a graphic score?

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

All great ideas! Maybe an English madrigal in time for summer... 🤔

[@lyleneff]

FYI, there are these two English madrigals by P.D.Q. Bach. ;-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/foPWg4uafMijeJI

[@53mikhale]

@@Nooticus MAY I ask which Madrigal your thinking of?

[@DonVueltaMorales]

Weelkes' "As Vesta Was Descending" is a parody of an English madrigal. 😉

[@DonVueltaMorales]

@@Nooticus Not compared to any other English madrigal. "As Vesta" is as fine and subtle as a sledgehammer. It's the Punch and Judy of English madrigals.

[@vhsjpdfg]

This is one of the highest-quality shitposts ever produced. It's extraordinary.

[@munchiemunch22]

My friend and I love your videos. Whenever we are singing or practicing, we always randomly shout "SUB-JECT" haha. Thank you so much doing this!

[@lubabalomahlombe451]

That was phenomenal

[@bahrss]

This 1:30 "shake" coloratura reminds me of an opening bass recitative in Messiah "Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. Yet once a little while and I will *shaaaaaake* the heavens.. "

[@andrewmargrave7518]

I call that Messiah selection "The Cocktail Aria".

[@bassmanxan3544]

I think that was the point lol

[@MegaGermanShepherds]

That last applause should’ve had a fermata on the “a-“, but oh my goodness this was awesome!

[@kevwang0712]

Brilliant, and some of the stressed syllables are even misplaced, a nod to how Handel might have been thinking of pronunciation in his native German sometimes, nice touch there.

[@sannancheng5323]

that "running through my range" melisma brings me ptsd of the melisma in "unto us a child is born".........my choir practiced that part so hard!

[@infinitelytheheartexpands]

this is SPOT. ON.

[@kiragarvie]

lolll love the Messiah reference... This is brilliant

[@adamhutchings4023]

I've been a huge fan of your work for a while. I just wanted you to know that my brother heard this piece and loved it so much that he used it to audition for a choir. And got in.

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

Well done him!

[@lizziesmusicmaking]

Hilariously accurate, especially the long section where the bass does indeed show fantastic breath control while singing about that fact. Well done Hugo Wickham! And Freddy Wickham for writing something so entertaining.

[@jordanbradford7729]

“Why do the nations so furiously rage together?” from his Messiah is a very clear inspiration for this. 😁

[@t192b]

With the shake higly reminiscent of "Thus Saith the Lord"

[@FlamingCockatiel]

I heard some of "For He is Like a Refiner's Fire," if I remember correctly, is closely connected to "Thus Saith the Lord."

[@kzyho]

As a choir bass singer loving Handel peaces I just say - GENIUS! :D

[@erikhn9331]

“P.D.Q. Händel” 😉 Brilliant 👍😊

[@sdghomero]

As somebody that has been playing Handel for several years, this is SPOT ON!! I was laughing the whole time--just amazing, haha! You may want to do another version with harpsichord, perhaps. Every single bit was awesomely perfect! Cheers from Mexico!!

[@tomevans-kc7gh]

Tremendously impressive!

[@inesdeerausquin5658]

This is absolutely spot on and utterly hilarious... and beautifully composed and sung! Bravissimo basso! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@qhubbles]

I can't believe what I just heard! STANDING OVATION FOR BOTH OF YOU!! OMG!!

[@thomaslai5303]

burst out in laughter when hearing the text! Very very WELL DONE! I LOVE THIS!!!!

[@jens6076]

massive flex, that breath control melisma

[@BenEmberley]

Whoever did this is a friggin' genius

[@Audiojack_]

For a joke this is very impressive.

[@aidenklass9767]

This is so cool, I'm going to make this part of my repertoire as a good joke piece. Though, I'll have to replace that part about the vocal fry on the low F, since I don't use it (as a Bass II). Many thanks.

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

Definitely preserve the fry by singing it down an octave.

[@andrewmargrave7518]

A bass should be able to sing F2 legitimately, with no fry or Strohbass.

[@corneliusnowicki5363]

Absolutely fantastic. This is real, quality content. Enjoyed every minute of it. Do you have any advice for how to get started with copying other composers' styles, like you do? Do you have to extensively study these composers' works and getting them down to a science, or does simply listening to their music suffice in this endevour?

[@pmnt_]

i think we need a "every Freddy Wickham piece ever" to answer this question.

You have to be "musical"; it's not like maths.

[@klop4228]

I think it's a bit of both a bit of both. Listening a lot will give you the familiarity to know if what you've written does, in fact, sound like whatever composer or not, but I think you do need to study the music a bit too, to know why exactly whatever you've written doesn't sound like what it's supposed to. So, it is, in fact a little bit like maths, just with some musicality thrown in at the end.

[@rosiefay7283]

@@klop4228 I agree. What's more, you need to study the scores in order to find out *what to do* to recreate your desired effects. Lots of scores, too. One purpose is to avoid your pastiche sounding too much like any one particular piece. Another is so that you can find out exactly what effects are common in the genre (and thus worth copying).

[@cantab345]

Hi Cornelius - there is really no replacement for total immersion in a particular style. For instance, if you are a keyboard player, you should aim to learn all of the 48 (and then learn to play them in different keys also). Play through vocal scores of the great oratorios of Bach and Handel. Simply listening is unlikely to be sufficient for, say, a truly authentic baroque style, because you will need some proficiency with counterpoint (and this itself presupposes an understanding of tonal harmony). This is a skill that takes some time to acquire, and is more of a continuous growth throughout one's life rather than simply reading a textbook from beginning to end. It's really difficult to give more specific advice without knowing what level of understanding you are currently at. You should of course listen to the music too. The most important requirement is a deep love for the style, as that leads to immersion which engenders understanding.

[@michaelwojcik2597]

hahah loved the messiah reference with the run on “shake”.

[@isdisorigionale]

This was so unironically beautiful, I loved it!!

[@ticfortea]

OK, I'm caving. I've listened to this I don't know how many times since you uploaded it, and I just have to say that in between the laughs I think the reason I'm returning again and again is that it gives me such comfort that there's a bright, kindred spirit out there who would take the time and effort to compose and arrange the performce of something like this. It feels like knowing that the parts of me that loves this fits into a crease in the wrinkles of the world I didn't know existed, and it's wonderful. Thank you.

[@FrogSkull]

Your best yet :)

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

Thank you!

[@richiebibbbaritone3718]

I am a baroque, and classical, composer; as well as a Bass myself. I love this so much, i want to sing this lmao, if its ok with you i mean. And write some variations on the theme/melody

[@Marcel-Nytko3003]

thunderous applause !!!

[@dawidkopp850]

Every Rossini comic aria ever pls XD

[@FlamingCockatiel]

My siblings and I have sung in many performances of the Messiah, so we can definitely relate. There's a bit of the refiner's fire in this one. I will be emailing this to them and the alto soloist. I thought "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" had a ridiculous melisma, but you topped it. Congrats to you and your brother for this refined ridiculousness!

[@Sherlock_Violin]

Another amazing video! Please keep it up!!!

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

Thank you, will be trying to get two pieces out a month if time permits!

[@basstian]

Thunderous applause!

[@AnimiertesLibretto]

Amazing work, thunderous applause indeed!👏

[@hansdeable]

This is amazing. I listened to this during my breakeamd its been stuck in my head the entire way to work

[@Anthony.Oboist.Pianist]

Oh my gosh, this is fantastic! I wish Handel heard this!

[@leahb3384]

LOL thank you KZbin algorithm for putting this on autoplay as i was studying for my Baroque music seminar class listening exam - SO hilarious, but also brilliantly done (and sung!!). the flubby piano "reduction" made me giggle so hard as an accompanist xD

[@FlamingCockatiel]

Flubby? What's that mean?

[@markkozlowski9019]

LOVE IT! As both a bass and a Handel fan, I find this both accurate and hilarious. And that's a heck of a good singer.

[@taylorallred6208]

I unironically love everything about this. Bravo!

[@phillipbell3739]

GREAT breath control - BRAVO!

[@originaltommy]

Tears of laughter streaming down face! LOVE IT!!!!! The odd flubs in the piano part add to the grin on my face!

[@mjefielder]

“And I will shake” big ole Messiah klang there 🥰

[@radenmahraja1325]

HELL THIS WAS BARITONE RANGE WITH BASS VOICE, SOUNDS NICE 😭👍🏻

[@andrewmargrave7518]

I would say the piece is basso cantante rather than baritone.

[@jessturner6886]

Genius. It’s like if Weird Al was born 300 years ago.

[@emilianolonginosalverdin894]

I need a complete comic oratorio hahahaha

[@FreddyWickhamMusic]

Not to let the cat out of the bag, but I have begun work on a larger project...

[@ctmagnus760]

OMG I am dying over here! Tenor here, but you nailed it on the head. Sharing with my colleagues, basses and all.

[@nikkeisimmer8795]

🤣🤣🤣🤣💀 I used to sing bass. I feel attacked. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Wonder how my college profs would react if I had sung this at my recital. 🤣 but my school years were 35 years back probably long before this song was even composed. “With egregious ornaments in tow…”had me splitting my sides. My wife was wondering what the hell was so funny. She’s not a musician, so she couldn’t understand. 🤣 Bravo Freddy, Perfect.

[@LiliKoblentz]

Perfection. I need one for mezzo sopranos!

[@VanVlearMusic]

Yo this is going to be 🔥

[@henrykwieniawski7233]

You were right!

[@TympanKiller28]

So brilliant, so true that I am totally speechless.

[@kaiquestumpf1]

Maaaan that last high note was right on spot

[@krisjustin3884]

Outstanding! Especially love the sustained 1/2 to tied whole notes with the harmonies of the piano accompaniment and what a nice personal touch on the finishing last 2 notes with that sustained F. Loved it!

[@jakobguntter3601]

This is incredibly funny! You keep finding ways to amaze!

[@sebastianbosley7308]

This is prime relatable content

[@drtee51]

BRAVO!!! Well done! You've got Handel down cold! Loved the run-on melismas, and the suspensions in m. 30-31. And of course the text-painting.

[@padrepatta5535]

That's simply magnificient!

[@annabelwaterfield6108]

Breathtakingly brilliant, both in conception and executon.

[@andreasdohn1748]

brilliant haha, nice references

[@jamesgroff4962]

Thank you!

[@donsroom4843]

I LOVE THIS!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I didn’t know I needed this today. It put a smile on my face and joy in my heart. I love art songs and parodies of classical music! 🙏🏾❤️😊

[@joannasleight7608]

Genius.

[@rayati2284]

Keep it up!! I would love to see Every French/Italian Art Song Ever someday...

[@weruwerru7843]

as a great fan of Haendel, I find it really enjoyable, both as a musical piece and the idea itself. I would love to hear something similar about soprano arias

[@marcus8258]

Handel wrote a lot of masterpieces for bass voice. True, in his weaker moments, he could be formulaic, but he could also pull a real miracle out of his hat when he so chose. Just listen to 'how willing my paternal love' from Samson, 'leave me loathsome light' from Semele or 'fra l'ombre' from Aci, Galatea e Polifemo. Three of the most beautiful pieces ever for bass!

[@sirknight4981]

Doubt anyone doubted ol' Han'.

[@ReggieMobley]

I am literally OBSESSED with everything on this channel.

[@tangerinebadger]

I love it so much. It’s so accurate and so funny.

[@youngminkwon616]

“How Handel do you want it to be?” Wickham: Yes. 1:28

[@szeptu1717]

Every coloratura soprano aria is something I'd die to hear XD

[@roberttucker9383]

Amazing! So good and so true.

[@Reeal15]

This takes on many different cosmic meanings at different playback speeds.

[@martinlagrange8821]

When next I join a choir, I'll use this as my audition piece !

[@penguinZ85]

This is spot on.

[@The2010SnowDay]

These are great! How about an "Every Gilbert and Sullivan Chorus"?

[@Minilena]

[applauds, thunderously]

[@brunoarturomendozavicente3775]

Incredible musical meme :"3 I love it. I'm waiting for the tenor's Handel Version and Vinci's/Porpora's castrato arias

[@earlineahonima4867]

Nailed it. Freddy, you are brilliant.

[@irabraus9478]

An hilarious and well-crafted satire -- especially the Bb major major ending (a da capo with two heads)!

[@kenrickmervine4979]

Bravo! Truly brilliant!

[@gracewenzel]

Bravo!!

[@JohnSmith-gv1fp]

How wonderfully meta, bravo!

[@lewisjones2666]

How about "Every Bach bass aria (ever)" next? Ich habe nicht genug.

[@Mabbdaa]

Ngl this is a beautiful piece and I really enjoyed it! Thank you for making this

[@andyxyz01]

Why is this unironically so good

[@Metronoma1]

This is amazing and funny! Bravo 🙌👏👏👏👏😀

[@1Joh411]

This is hilarious!! And recognizable!

[@MaxTooney]

Wow, these are such fun! (Luscious tones indeed, Hugo!)

[@steveguest2003]

Absolutely fantastic, loved every note!