George Frideric Handel

Chandos Anthems

Arcangelo / Jonathan Cohen (Alpha Classics)

Lukáš M. Vytlačil

The year 1717 is associated with the famous Water Music, first performed on the River Thames with extraordinary success on 17^th July. Just a few weeks later, Handel began work on a cycle of occasional psalms for James Brydges (1674‒1744). Brydges had acquired considerable wealth and high social standing thanks to the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1714 he purchased the Earldom of Carnarvon and in 1719 became the first Duke of Chandos. He also owned the Cannons estate near Edgware, near London (now part of the London Borough of Harrow), where he also had his residence rebuilt. He maintained a small band at his court called the Cannons Concert.

Handel composed a cycle of eleven anthems on texts of Old Testament psalms according to the Book of Common Prayer of 1662, which were then performed by Brydges's Cannons Concert at the nearby parish church of St. Lawrence in Little Stanmore. The whole cycle is called Anthems for Cannons or Chandos Anthems, after their commissioner.

Although these anthems are not among Handel’s forgotten works, they are nevertheless in the shadow of Handel's more famous compositions. One unmistakable piece of evidence that these compositions are musically and interpretively attractive and worth paying attention to is the new recording by the Arcangelo ensemble (catalog number Alpha 1153). This ensemble, led by harpsichordist Jonathan Cohen, has recorded four selected anthems on copies of historical instruments: O sing unto the Lord , HWV 249^b, Have mercy upon me, o God , HWV 248, As pants the hart , HWV 251^b, and Let God arise , HWV 256^a. Cohen’s chamber ensemble consists of eight singers, five violinists, oboe, bassoon and basso continuo – a diverse group of cello, double bass, lute, organ and harpsichord. This not very large number is close to the size and capabilities of Brydges's Cannons Concert ensemble, which performed the anthems in St. Lawrence's Church in Little Stanmore.

The splendid sound is, however, primarily due to the excellent performers, whose performances are of very high quality in terms of both technique and interpretation. This applies to all vocalists in solo and choral parts, as well as to the instrumentalists, among whom it is necessary to highlight at least the soloists Louis Creac'h (violin) and Clara Blessing (oboe). In the ensemble and solo numbers, we can fully admire Handel's mastery, when in the relatively modest area of the anthems he presents a diverse palette of musical means of expression. There are both music-dramatic parts showing Handel’s prowess of opera, and spiritually profound areas, such as Praised be the Lord in the anthem Let God arise (HWV 256^a).

Cohen’s overall interpretative concept emphasizes the music’s spiritual text, the musicians approaching each individual part very sensitively. Thanks to this, the listener has the opportunity to admire the incredible stylistic richness that Handel was able to use as a composer. Here we find elements of a Corelli sonata, in some places an almost Purcellian clarity, typical of English music of the second half of the 17^th century, but also counterpoint from the best tradition of the late Baroque vocal-instrumental fugue, as we know it e.g. from the German Protestant environment. That includes a magnificent fugue with a constant counterpoint in the section Then shall I teach Thy ways (HWV 248). In most parts we can admire diverse varieties of Handel's typical, distinctive musical language. All these stylistic levels sound very plastic, organic and interpretatively very convincing. I must especially draw attention to the final chorus Blessed be God (anthem HWV 256^a), where a prefiguration of the iconic call Hallelujah appears almost 25 years before the creation of the famous oratorio Messiah.

The Arcangelo ensemble's recording presents these anthems in an exceptionally high-quality interpretation and this album should definitely stand out in Handel's extensive discography.

The Czech original of the text was published on polyharmonie.cz.

Links

• Disc on the website of the British retailer Presto Music.
• “Chandos Anthems” souboru Arcangelo. Recenze Lukáše M. Vytlačila.
  (The Czech original of the present review.)
• Lukáš M. Vytlačil on Wikipedia.