Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba | Academy of Ancient Music

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Academy of Ancient Music performs the 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba'; the Sinfonia to Act III from Handel's oratorio Solomon HWV67 [1748]. AAM are led by Bojan Čičić and directed by Christopher Bucknall at the harpsichord.
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ACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC
director & harpsichord: Christopher Bucknall
leader: Bojan Čičić
Recorded at St. Jude on the Hill,
Hampstead Garden Suburb, London
January 2019
Music Producer: Adrian Peacock
Video director: Guy Wigmore
Recording Engineer: David Hinitt
Project: Academy of Ancient Music Season Sessions 18-19.
#academyofancientmusic

[@alvinlucywalk8317]

Let’s all of us give a huge HAND TO HANDEL ❤❤❤HALLELUJAH ❤❤❤

[@cancelled_user]

This is so beautiful I can barely Handel my emotions 🥲

[@robinseay3486]

I Couldn’t Agree More! Such a Magnificent Musical Masterpiece🎶Evokes Pure Joy!!

[@mikeggg5671]

You take that Bach!

[@cancelled_user]

@@mikeggg5671 Nah, I'm not Haydn anything!

[@mikeggg5671]

@@cancelled_user you're going to get put on a Liszt if you keep this up

[@someonespadre]

Ba-dum gish

[@williamalston5604]

I love this version of Handel's "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba". The tempo of the music is just right.

[@gerardmcnally]

I just love Handel's music, this performance is exceptional.

[@DonnaGisellaTranchel]

Handel - my favorite guy!!!💙💙💙💙💙

[@alanthistlethwaite8436]

Handel was sent by god to give joy to the world.

[@Juan-jq8zd]

Yep Handel is a miracle of the music 😊

[@mikesoule1352]

Are they all playing period instruments?

[@angeliqueorgeur7667]

"Handel" is a "Trademan", but HÄndel was the composer

[@trishtraynor]

Wonderful memories of this being played at a friend's funeral. He planned it himself, and this is what accompanied the coffin as it left the Canongate Kirk. We were all trying not to giggle. Joyful, beautiful and in my memory as camp as Christmas. I love music.💖

[@gillianmooney4542]

What a lovely thing to say. G

[@patriciayeiser6405]

I love the obvious enjoyment that can be seen on the faces of the musicians. They aren't just playing notes. Wonderful, AAM!

[@infledermaus]

If I had managed to become a professional musician, this is the only genre of music I would have played. I love baroque music!

[@patriciayeiser6405]

@@infledermaus Mozart and Haydn and Bach family aren't bad, either.

[@halo5725]

I can't play a musical instrument in any way, but when I listen to music like this I wish I could make sounds like it. It must be the same joy as fixing things

[@philipinchina]

Particularly the oriental girl. She is lovely.

[@LucienMarine]

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, sinfonia for two oboes and strings by George Frideric Handel was created in 1749 at London’s Covent Garden Theatre as part of his new Biblical oratorio into the first scene of Act III in the oratorio Solomon. This one is rarely performed in its entirety, but Handel’s bright and lively interlude The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (in A major) is a widely appreciated processional set piece. In the Book of Kings, the Queen of Sheba travels from afar to visit the splendid court of King Solomon, arriving, as the bible mentions with a very great retinue, then camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones. Handel’s music admirably captures the excitement of a lavish state visit of an exotic foreign Queen, and first-night London audiences would have had no problem reading of Handel’s depiction and the coming of a compliment by their reigning monarch, King George II. Be like a good Prince in love with glory, and make a story of you. This king must have been a lover of art. *Lucien*

[@albionproperty]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@LucienMarine]

@@albionproperty 💙💙💙💙😘

[@janetryan9779]

I was already familiar with the biblical account of this event, but appreciated your background information regarding the composition and initial performance of this great work! I have always loved this piece of music, and Handel is amongst my favorite composers.

[@LucienMarine]

@@janetryan9779 O thank you Janet! It’s nice to meet a music lover. Handel is probably the one I admire unlike Bach who neither wrote an opera nor published a dialectical and musical book for to mention that this. I appreciate many this execution because it is played by a baroque ensemble. Sincerely *Lucien*

[@janetryan9779]

@@LucienMarine Bach and Handel are my favorite composers, so- no surprise!- the Baroque period of musical composition is also my favorite. Yes, it’s great when the instrumentation matches with how it would originally have been performed…just sounds right. : )

[@lic.juanmanuelolagueacuna8049]

Thanks ! Danken Dir ! Shokhran !👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏⭐⭐⭐

[@patriciayeiser6405]

At that tempo, she would have arrived early! Wonderful oboe players.

[@davelee8961]

I had that same thought! Could probably back off on the tempo a bit, but still brilliant!

[@The-Nil-By-Mouth]

It seems everyone is in a hurry these days :) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWeZiXanjNCbo9k

[@dnetz2145]

@Patricia - Very astute observation.

[@SiliconBassist]

Am I the only one who is used to hearing it at this tempo? Lol

[@kaykanaschan5738]

Magical hands! Amazing!

[@robjohnston1433]

I love it this fast! There are a lot of very slow versions around but this tempo really makes it glorious and worthy of the Queen of Sheba. I would like this to accompany ME wherever I go! Oboes are especially fab!

[@shin-i-chikozima]

WheneverI listen to this masterpiece, I feel like I am witnessing the arrival of that Queen of Sheba with Handel

[@shin-i-chikozima]

The Beauty and Gorgeousness of Sheba must quench and moisturize the parched soul of us earthlings

[@jasonsummit1885]

Just love that this is played on baroque instruments, so it sounds like it would have when Handel wrote the piece.👍

[@georgehahn2979]

Spirited and driving performance. Orchestra hits the mark every time. No sloppiness. Love the lute.

[@dougr.2398]

Lite or theorbo? Impossible to hear it!

[@aj3569]

Fabulous! Heaven captured in a melodious reverberation. ❤🎉

[@havingalook2]

The joy this brings to the listener. And I can see the joy on the faces of many of the players. Well done. I liked the tempo, made my blood race.

[@EricRoss57]

Concerning the sinfonia's tempo, it is more than fitting, for as the title suggests, the queen's visit to Solomon's Israel was a joyous occasion. Very nice performance!

[@jaynelindill9267]

I keep coming back to this recording. Thank heavens for young musicians like Christopher Bucknall who want to play this music and keep it alive!

[@cosmofoxgaming1268]

Simply breathtaking. I’ve only just started properly drawing from the well we call “classical” music. The font is deep and full of wonders.

[@melissalysk1039]

This was played as I walked down the aisle at my son's wedding. I was thrilled that the organist suggested this!!!

[@Musica-xo3uv]

Perfecto tempo! Joyful allegro... Thank you.!

[@Marcus_Shaw]

She must have been running late

[@itamarferreiradecarvalho487]

HaHaHaHaHaHa 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@Sshooter444]

better late than never

[@keonigaines]

Bwahaha!

[@balice806]

😂

[@margarettegalesantos6907]

😅😅😅

[@vicjones3992]

The AAM seem to "get" Handel's music better than any other orchestra....this performance is sublime❤

[@Longtack55]

Handel's father resisted his son's desire for a career in music, but his mother supported it. Arguably his father's death when George was 11 helped, and the family was financially comfortable. GF emigrated to England as it was more financially advantageous for a talented young (27) man than was "Germany."

[@adenekanadekunle6305]

A delivery so perfect, a tempo so exquisite, a performance so enthralling and a Magisterial composition Handel could only have written for Majesty.

[@Momo-ku2ex]

I feel like this performance is so precise and perfectly modulated, for example the beautiful part around 2:38 with the descending bass and the building ostinati holding back just enough to make the payoff starting around 2:44 all the more satisfying

[@abfou123]

Exciting, stimulating and beautiful, thanks Handel, and yes, the musicians do look happy, thanks Academy of Ancient Music.

[@stevenscott6787]

I’ve not seen this piece performed better. So very well done! Everyone in it is so great!

[@JimParshall]

I love this song and this performance. I used to use this song to sell high end audio all the time and then used it later to help teach storytelling with music and sound for the video game industry. It has always been one of my very favorites and you folks do a wonderful version!

[@shin-i-chikozima]

This specutacular performance they play with exquisite skill and breathtaking technique and beautiful attire is beyond description , inspirational and comfortable to the ear and the mind There is something extraordinary in their specutacular performance From Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵

[@tarikandia5825]

This peace of melody makes me feel so real! That music take my energies up to to joyful! Sorry for my english but I feel so excited after listening to this magnificent melody 😍

[@edelahaye]

"piece" ...

[@tarikandia5825]

Emmanuel Delahaye grcias 😊

[@malachatterjee8868]

Emotions are already handled for you. You can go soaring

[@neilstewart5407]

The beautifully invigorating yet satisfyingly calming piece of classic classical music. The piece of divine music that first got me interested in the beauty of Classical music. All those superlatives and I still haven't done it justice! But AAM certainly do, and I love it played at this tempo and with so much joy! Thank you

[@musicalzest]

Beautiful music of great virtuosity and remarkable skill. The joy of music through the ages, lives here right now!! Most majestic and divine performance! [`Salutes!!]

[@prestleygemini1060]

Sunday 7:05 in the morning of 17 september 2023 listening to handel i know that my sunday will be wonderful.

[@sarahsnowe]

Start your day dancing to this and you're off to a good start!

[@juliehoulding1271]

You can dance and exercise too with The Hallelujah Chorus!

[@mariajosecoimbra8905]

Amo essa composição de Handel. Ela me traz muita alegria e boas energias.

[@littlellamblet]

I feel the Queen is so excited and beaming in her face to meeting Solomon!😊

[@larssilverek6818]

This song makes me genuinely happy!

[@Tomsonic41]

I actually prefer it at this tempo, even though it sounds like she'd be running for her life!

[@SkipperNunana]

Why, I imagine there'd be a bustle around her instead while she herself will remain regal and graceful. :)

[@Mr.Sid3]

Absolutely fantastic! Very well played.

[@amnonamnon8479]

Vibrational frequency, sending shivers down my spine

[@jaynelindill9267]

This makes my heart sing! Truly authentic and joyful.

[@michaelmiller1215]

Amazing! All of the beautiful Art Deco sets! And that TERIFFIC score!

[@michaeljohnson1157]

Ich Liebe den 🎻 Violinen, verein ! ( ...und die Damen...!! Sehr glorreich und gewandt____

[@petergrundy8081]

Beautiful musicians perfect I close my eyes I can feel the mood of crowd as she and her court sweep by the anticipation the wonder

[@expoers]

Classic example that music is the extraordinary and excellent art of combining sounds, Thaks for posting and share!

[@randykrammer1295]

Love the music and love the musician's great enjoyment of their craft. Superb.

[@jfcgate]

What a performance such beauty ! Can't help but smile listening to this.

[@freedomandrantforall]

Wow. Hearing this always brings me joy no matter what is going on.

[@Rob-rr2cp]

Heavenly light and beautiful. Amazing grace...

[@tonymercer7759]

Another splendid performance of Handel by the AAM !

[@eslermanu47]

Brilliant my favourite piece of music

[@NeilGastonguay]

Exciting rendition of this wonderful music.

[@slowboymetaphysician3899]

I can just picture all of Solomon’s servants bustling around to this music tidying everything up before the queen arrives.

[@amnonamnon8479]

An african beauty

[@oulunsaloensemble]

Fantastic and joyful! 🎶

[@venzislavvladimirov3046]

Amazing performance, bravo!!!! 😲😲🤔👍👍👍👍

[@vaughangarrick]

Just scrolled through 8 of these and so far this is the best....

[@loesbakker1779]

heel mooi gespeeld leuk om naar te luisteren

[@alenkapintar8660]

Simply perfect! Beautiful music and brilliant good performance.

[@lauracompagnoni]

Beautiful ambience, my friend. I love that miserere mei.

[@loiseldridge5701]

The most joyful I’ve ever heard in my 86 years!!! Bravo! Hallelujah😅

[@stuarthenlis5740]

I love classical music. This work is one reason I love classical music!

[@box6497]

U make pop / hip hop music in matter of time (small time) like even weeks (for a music (rest - words and more) normaly about 6 months. But Classical music is way harder to create/compose (For geniuses like Mozart it wouldn't take that much (Maybe 1 week or more) Less than a month normaly. But for others it may take months ba... Years (even 3 if they had alot to do) working on others every day, so yh.

[@snejitikova2797]

Amazing playing the orcestra were great. I really like it

[@shin-i-chikozima]

This wonderful performance embodies that world of the Old Testament

[@rattywoof5259]

Considering there's about 2500 years of separation, that's a very strange opinion.

[@shin-i-chikozima]

@@rattywoof5259 Thankyou From A corner of Tokyo 🇯🇵🍚🍙🥟🍱🍲🍜🍘🍣🍢🍡🌊🍥⛩️🎍🎋🎏🎎👺🏯🗾🎴🗻🐈🥋🀄👘🗼🌸💮㊗️🎌 These emoji 絵文字are unique to Japan Handel will read the Old Testament

[@Gardenbelley]

Happy birthday to gerog frederic handel! This is a lovely performance

[@robertwatt9012]

I love the piece, and I love the fact thatit found its way into the Score for "The Singing Detective"

[@amnonamnon8479]

Handel and Bach both German geniuses!

[@geovannyg.m.1323]

¡Hermoso! Sonido atemporal e idílico...

[@Johnsun12]

Love from Eritrea, well done!

[@amnonamnon8479]

You beautful people

[@ccona2020]

Amazing. Thanks. 🤗🙌👏

[@paoloiannoni9805]

Beautiful music i adore

[@notrappaport5340]

I love it at this tempo!

[@channelejg5862]

Adore this piece!

[@colinmccauley3301]

one of the most memorable DJ's on Boston's PBS station in the 60's and 70's was Robert J. Lurtsema who had a radio program in the morning and played only Classical Music, this was his introduction music

[@Marrio49]

As well as William Pierce from WGBH Boston, who was the announcer for many many years of the Boston, Symphony Orchestra in Symphony Hall. Knew him well as I worked in Symphony Hall throughout college at New England Conservatory of music.

[@jimroberts3651]

One's views on how a piece "should" be performed usually depend on whose version you were first familiar with. I first heard this piece in the 1950s when it was the fashion to play it more slowly. At this speed you have visions of the Queen and her entourage donning their running shoes and sprinting in.

[@gdj6298]

Unless they are walking at half-tempo. Or unless this is not meant as entry music, but just to herald the imminent arrival. Or, as another commenter said, it is meant to evoke the scurryfunging of the staff before the arrival.

[@carolpountney7627]

So beautiful ❤

[@tally1hawk]

This should be played at weddings after the recessional; to hustle the guests out so the next wedding can take place.

[@isabelleaupetit7059]

Merveilleux !

[@robsullivan7789]

Superb. Love that smile at the end. Happy Christmas. Rob. X

[@fionakelter9379]

A great piece of classical music

[@albertwessels71]

so beautiful.

[@Amber-gr4mo]

We doing this for our orchestra assignment this Tuesday hope we get a 1(that' good)

[@illbeback126]

I wish that Queen and Solomon could have heard this❤

[@jeffkim6729]

Perfection!

[@matteoromenghi]

Excellent!

[@lindadavies6109]

Just brilliant 🌟👏👏👏👏🌟

[@ferdinandpangan6494]

Honestly I think of wedding preparations and receptions when I hear this beautiful piece.

[@RodCorkin]

Nothing wrong with the tempo to my ears! :)

[@LuisLopez-xx2db]

Must be one of his masterpieces more known for the persons.

[@margheritamazza3904]

Sooo emotional❤

[@richardwoods5873]

My wife walked up the aisle to this at our wedding

[@michaeljohnson1157]

Obvious 🦆ENJOYMENT AND PURE⭐MAGNIFICENCE

[@chef1arjunaidi]

What a beautiful performance of a magnificent music! Who are the 16 ignoramuses who disliked this video? :-)

[@TheMikeJr2001]

Beautiful rendition!

[@carminestrocchia16]

Straordinaria esecuzione

[@Tamerlano1997]

Amazing! Bravissimi! You made my day!

[@rev.stephena.cakouros948]

Well done and uplifting.

[@DonnaGisellaTranchel]

But... Isn't she ALWAYS EARLY? I'm late, though... Haven't listened to this for several years... January 2024! 💙💙💙💙💙