Alexander's Feast is an ode with music by George Frideric Handel set to a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton. Hamilton adapted his libretto from John Dryden's ode Alexander's Feast, or the Power of Music which had been written to celebrate Saint Cecilia's Day. Jeremiah Clarke set the original ode to music. Handel composed the music in January 1736, and the work received its premiere at the Covent Garden Theatre, London, on 19 February 1736. In its original form it contained three concertos: a concerto in B flat major in 3 movements for "Harp, Lute, Lyrichord and other Instruments" HWV 294 for performance after the recitative Timotheus, plac'd on high in Part I; a concerto grosso in C major in 4 movements for oboes, bassoon and strings, now known as the "Concerto in Alexander's Feast" HWV 318, performed between Parts I and II; and an organ concerto HWV 289 in G minor and major in 4 movements for chamber organ, oboes, bassoon and strings performed after the chorus Let old Timotheus yield the prize in Part II. The organ concerto and harp concerto were published in 1738 by John Walsh as the first and last of the Handel organ concertos Op.4. Handel revised the music for performances in 1739, 1742 and 1751. Donald Burrows has discussed Handel's revisions to the score. The work describes a banquet held by Alexander the Great and his mistress Thaïs in the captured Persian city of Persepolis, during which the musician Timotheus sings and plays his lyre, arousing various moods in Alexander until he is finally incited to burn the city down in revenge for his dead Greek soldiers. The piece was a great success and it encouraged Handel to make the transition from writing Italian operas to English choral works. The soloists at the premiere were the sopranos Anna Maria Strada and Cecilia Young, the tenorJohn Beard, and a bass called Erard.
Chorus: The many rend the skies with loud applause
Aria : The prince, unable to conceal his pain
Chorus: The many rend the skies with loud applause
Part two:
Recitative and chorus: Now strike the golden lyre again
Aria : Revenge, Timotheus cries
Recitative: Give vengeance the due
Aria : The princes applaud with a furious joy
Aria and chorus : Thais led the way
Recitative : Thus long ago
Chorus: At last divine Cecilia came
Recitative : Let old Timotheus yield the prize
Chorus: Let old Timotheus yield the prize
Organ concerto, Opus 4 Number 1
Chorus: Your voices tune
Recordings
Alexander's Feast or The Power of Musick, HWV 75: Honor Sheppard, soprano; Max Worthley, tenor; Maurice Bevan, bass; Oriana Concert Choir & Orchestra, conducted by Alfred Deller; Recorded 1964 — 2 LP Bach Guild BG-666—BG-667
