Canon
Where to start with Handel
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralConcerto Grosso in A major, op. 6, no. 11, HWV.329
-
VocalMessiah, HWV.56 — Oratorio
-
StageGiulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV.17 — Opera
-
KeyboardHarpsichord Suite in E, HWV.430, "The Harmonious Blacksmith"
-
Chamber11 Pieces for Musical Clock in C major, F, and G, HWV.587-597
-
OrchestralMusic for the Royal Fireworks in D major, HWV.351
-
OrchestralOrgan Concerto in B flat major, op. 4, no. 6, HWV.294
-
OrchestralOrgan Concerto in F major, HWV.295, "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale"
-
OrchestralOrgan Concerto in G minor, op. 7, no. 5, HWV.310
-
OrchestralWater Music Suite no. 1 in F major, HWV.348
-
OrchestralWater Music Suite no. 2 in D major, HWV.349
-
OrchestralWater Music Suite no. 3 in G major, HWV.350
-
VocalAlexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV.75
-
OrchestralConcerto Grosso in A minor, op. 6, no. 4, HWV.322
-
OrchestralOrgan Concerto in G minor, op. 4, no. 1, HWV.289
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Handel's catalogueMost Popular
-
Messiah — Hallelujah Chorus
-
Water Music (complete)
-
Music for the Royal Fireworks
-
Largo (Ombra mai fu from Serse)
-
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Most Acclaimed
-
Giulio Cesare (opera)
-
Dixit Dominuswritten at age 22 — astonishingly violent choral writing
-
Jephthahis last oratorio — written while going blind
-
Keyboard Suites (complete)
-
Messiah (complete)
Most Weird
-
Dixit Dominuswritten at 22 — the fury of the choral writing shocked contemporary audiences; it sounds nothing like the mature Handel
-
Agrippina (opera)political satire about Nero’s mother — surprisingly modern in its cynicism
-
Keyboard Suite No. 5 in E major ”The Harmonious Blacksmith”the theme and variations are deceptively simple — 18th-century electronic music
-
Resurrection (oratorio)early Italian oratorio — almost unknown
-
Acis and Galateapastoral serenata — the giant Polyphemus is depicted with a deliberately crude bass aria
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 360
- Orchestral
- ● Concerto Grosso in A major, op. 6, no. 11, HWV.329
- ● Music for the Royal Fireworks in D major, HWV.351
- ● Organ Concerto in B flat major, op. 4, no. 6, HWV.294
- ● Organ Concerto in F major, HWV.295, "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale"
- ● Organ Concerto in G minor, op. 7, no. 5, HWV.310
- ● Water Music Suite no. 1 in F major, HWV.348
- ● Water Music Suite no. 2 in D major, HWV.349
- ● Water Music Suite no. 3 in G major, HWV.350
- Concerto Grosso in A minor, op. 6, no. 4, HWV.322
- Organ Concerto in G minor, op. 4, no. 1, HWV.289
- Air in G minor, for oboe and orchestra
- Alceste, incidental music, HWV.45
- Alchemist, incidental music, HWV.43
- Concerto Grosso in B flat major, op. 3, no. 1, HWV.312
- Concerto Grosso in B flat major, op. 3, no. 2, HWV.313
- Concerto Grosso in B flat major, op. 6, no. 7, HWV.325
- Concerto Grosso in B minor, op. 6, no. 12, HWV.330
- Concerto Grosso in C major, HWV.318, "Alexander's Feast"
- Concerto Grosso in C minor, op. 6, no. 8, HWV.326
- Concerto Grosso in D major, op. 3, no. 6, HWV.317
- Concerto Grosso in D major, op. 6, no. 5, HWV.323
- Concerto Grosso in D minor, op. 3, no. 5, HWV.316
- Concerto Grosso in D minor, op. 6, no. 10, HWV.328
- Concerto Grosso in E minor, op. 6, no. 3, HWV.321
- Concerto Grosso in F major, op. 3, no. 4, HWV.315
- Concerto Grosso in F major, op. 6, no. 2, HWV.320
- Concerto Grosso in F major, op. 6, no. 9, HWV.327
- Concerto Grosso in G major, op. 3, no. 3, HWV.314
- Concerto Grosso in G major, op. 6, no. 1, HWV.319
- Concerto Grosso in G minor, op. 6, no. 6, HWV.324
- Concerto a due cori no. 1 in B flat major, HWV.332
- Concerto a due cori no. 2 in F major, HWV.333
- Concerto a due cori no. 3 in F major, HWV.334
- Concerto in B flat major, for lutes, strings and recorders
- Concerto in D major, HWV.335a
- Concerto no. 1 for Strings: Aria
- Hornpipe aria in C minor, HWV.355
- Hornpipe in D major, HWV.356
- Il Pastor Fido, HWV.8c
- March, HWV.345
- March, for wind ensemble in D major, HWV.416
- March, for wind ensemble in F major, HWV.346
- March, for wind ensemble in G major, HWV.418
- Oboe Concerto in F major, HWV.331
- Oboe Concerto no. 1 in B flat major, HWV.302a
- Organ Concerto in A major, HWV.296a
- Organ Concerto in A major, op. 7, no. 2, HWV.307
- Organ Concerto in B flat major, op. 4, no. 2, HWV.290
- Organ Concerto in B flat major, op. 7, no. 1, HWV.306
- Organ Concerto in B flat major, op. 7, no. 3, HWV.308
- Organ Concerto in D minor, HWV.304
- Organ Concerto in D minor, op. 7, no. 4, HWV.309
- Organ Concerto in F major, HWV.305
- Organ Concerto in F major, op. 4, no. 4, HWV.292
- Organ Concerto in F major, op. 4, no. 5, HWV.293
- Organ Concerto in G minor, op. 4, no. 3, HWV.291
- Organ Concerto in G minor, op. 7, no. 6, HWV.311
- Overture in B flat major, HWV.336
- Overture in D major, HWV.337
- Rondo in G major, for oboe and orchestra
- Sinfonia, HWV.338
- Suite in B flat major, HWV.352
- Suite in B flat major, HWV.354
- Suite in G major, HWV.353
- Suite in G minor
- Suite in G minor, for two oboes and orchestra
- Terpsichore, HWV.8b — Ballet
- Trumpet Concerto in B flat major
- Trumpet Concerto in D
- Trumpet Concerto in D minor
- Trumpet Concerto no. 1, HWV.301
- Vocal
- ● Messiah, HWV.56 — Oratorio
- Alexander's Feast, ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV.75
- 9 Arias, hymms for soprano and continuo, HWV.202-210
- Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, HWV.72
- Agrippina condotta a morire, for soprano, 2 violins, and continuo, HWV.110
- Ah che troppo ineguali, for soprano and strings, HWV.230
- Ah! crudel, nel pianto mio, cantata for soprano and ensemble, HWV.78
- Alexander Balus, HWV.65
- Alleluia, for baritone and organ
- Alpestre Monte, HWV.81
- Amarilli Vezzosa, for soprano, alto, 2 violins and continuo, HWV.82
- Amen, for baritone and accompaniment
- Aminta E Fillide, for 2 sopranos, strings and continuo, HWV.83
- Amore uccellatore, for alto, HWV.176
- Apollo e Dafne, for soprano, bass, and orchestra, HWV.122
- Armida abbandonata, HWV.105
- Atalanta: Like as the love-lorn turtle
- Athalia, HWV.52
- Aure soavi e liete, for soprano and orchestra, HWV.84
- Belshazzar, HWV.61
- Blessed Are They That Considereth the Poor, HWV.268, "Foundling Hospital Anthem"
- Brockes Passion, HWV.48
- Carco sempre di gloria, for alto and orchestra, HWV.87
- Chandos Anthems, HWV.246-257
- Chi rapi la pace al core, for soprano, HWV.90
- Clori, Tirsi e Fileno, for 2 sopranos, alto, and orchestra, HWV.96
- Clori, degli occhi miei, HWV.91
- Clori, mia bella Clori, HWV.92
- Coelestis dum spirat aura, motet for soprano, 2 violins and continuo, HWV.231
- Conservate, raddopiate, duet for soprano, alto and continuo, HWV.185
- Coronation Anthems, HWV.258-261
- Crudel tiranno Amor, HWV.97
- Cuopre tal volta il cielo, HWV.98
- Dalla guerra amorosa, for bass and continuo, HWV.102a
- Dalla guerra amorosa, for soprano and continuo, HWV.102
- Deborah, HWV.51
- Diana Cacciatrice, HWV.79
- Dixit Dominus, HWV.232
- Dolc' e pur d'amor l'affanno, HWV.109a
- Donna, che in ciel, HWV.233
- English Songs, HWV.228
- Ero e Leandro, for soprano, 2 oboes, strings and continuo, HWV.150
- Esther, HWV.50a
- Esther, oratorio, HWV.50b
- Figli del mesto cor, for alto and continuo, HWV.112
- Figlio d'alte speranze, for soprano, HWV.113
- Fra pensieri quel pensiero, for alto, HWV.115
- Fronda leggiera e mobile, duet for soprano, alto and continuo, HWV.186
- Glocken der Kreuskirche in Dresden; Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, for chorus
- Gloria, for soprano and orchestra
- Haec est Regina virginum, antiphon for soprano, strings and continuo, HWV.235
- Hercules, HWV.60
- Ho fuggito Amore anch'io, HWV.118
- How beautiful are the feet of them, anthem, HWV.266
- Il Delirio Amoroso, for soprano and orchestra, HWV.99
- Il Gelsomino, HWV.164
- Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno, HWV.46a
- Irene, idolo mio, HWV.120
- Israel in Egypt, HWV.54
- Jephtha, HWV.70
- Joseph and his Brethren, HWV.59
- Joshua, HWV.64
- Joy to the World
- Jubilate,for soloists, chorus and orchestra, HWV.279, "Utrecht"
- Judas Maccabaeus, HWV.63
- L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, HWV.55
- La Lucrezia, for soprano and continuo, HWV.145
- La Resurrezione, HWV.47
- La Solitudine, for alto, HWV.121
- Lascia ch'io pianga, aria
- Laudate Pueri Dominum, psalm, for soprano, 2 violins and continuo in F major, HWV.236
- Laudate pueri Dominum, HWV.237
- Look Down, Harmonious Saint, cantata for tenor, strings and continuo, HWV.124
- Lungi da me pensier tiranno!, HWV.125b
- Mi palpita il cor, HWV.132
- Nel dolce tempo, HWV.135
- Nell' africane selve, cantata for bass and continuo, HWV.136a
- Nisi Dominus, HWV.238
- No, di voi non vo' fidarmi, duet for 2 sopranos and continuo, HWV.189
- Notte placida e cheta, HWV.142
- Nó se emenderà jamás, HWV.140
- O love divine, how sweet thou art, for chorus and ensemble, HWV.285
- O numi eterni, for soprano and continuo, HWV.145
- O qualis de coelo sonus, motet for soprano, HWV.239
- Occasional Oratorio, HWV.62
- Occhi miei, che faceste?, HWV.146
- Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV.76
- Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV.74
- Olinto pastore, for voices and orchestra, HWV.143
- Partì, l'idolo mio, for soprano and continuo, HWV.147
- Pensieri notturni di filli, for soprano, recorder, and continuo, HWV.134, "Nel dolce dell'oblio"
- Pirro e Demetrio
- Qualor crudele si mia vaga Dori, HWV.151
- Quel fior ch'all'alba ride, duet for 2 sopranos and continuo, HWV.192
- Quel fior ch'all'alba ride, for soprano and continuo, HWV.154
- Rejoice, the Lord is King, hymn, HWV.286
- Saeviat tellus inter rigores, for soprano, 2 oboes, strings and continuo, HWV.240
- Salve Regina, antiphon for soprano, strings, organ and continuo in G minor, HWV.241
- Samson, HWV.57
- Saul, HWV.53
- Se tu non lasci amore, HWV.201a
- Semele, HWV.58
- Sento la che ristretto, HWV.161b
- Siete rose rugiadose, HWV.162
- Silete Venti, motet for soprano and orchestra in B flat major, HWV.242
- Silla,, opera, HWV.10
- Sinners obey the Gospel word, for voice and ensemble
- Solitudini care, amata libertà, cantata for soprano and continuo, HWV.163
- Solomon, HWV.67
- Sono liete, fortunate, duet for soprano, alto and continuo, HWV.194
- Sorge il dì, for soprano, alto, bass, and orchestra, HWV.72, "Aci, Galatea o Polifemo"
- Spande ancor a mio dispetto, for bass, 2 violins and continuo, HWV.165
- Splende l'alba in oriente, for alto and orchestra, HWV.166
- Stanco di piu soffrire, HWV.167a
- Susanna, HWV.66
- Tanti strali al sen, duet with continuo, HWV.197
- Te Deum for soloists, chorus and orchestra in D major, HWV.278
- Te Deum for soloists, chorus and orchestra in D major, HWV.283
- Te Deum in A major, canticle, HWV.282
- Te Deum in D, HWV.278, "Utrecht"
- Te Deum in D, HWV.283, "Dettingen"
- The Choice of Hercules, HWV.69
- The King Shall Rejoice, HWV.265, "Dettingen Anthem"
- The Triumph of Time and Truth, HWV.71
- Theodora, HWV.68
- Torna il core al suo diletto, for soprano, HWV.169
- Tra le fiamme, HWV.170
- Tu fedel? Tu constante?, for soprano, 2 violins, and continuo, HWV.171
- Un' alma innamorata, HWV.173
- Vedendo Amor, for alto and continuo, HWV.175
- Venus and Adonis for soprano, HWV.85
- Stage
- Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV.17 — Opera
- Acis and Galatea, HWV.49 — Opera
- Admeto, Rè di Tessaglia, HWV.22 — Opera
- Agrippina, HWV.6 — Opera
- Alcina, HWV.34 — Opera
- Alessandro Severo, Anh.13 — Opera
- Alessandro, HWV.21 — Opera
- Almira, HWV.1 — Opera
- Amadigi di Gaula, HWV.11 — Opera
- Arianna in Creta, HWV.32 — Opera
- Ariodante, HWV.33 — Opera
- Arminio, HWV.36 — Opera
- Atalanta, HWV.35 — Opera
- Berenice, regina d'Egitto, HWV.38 — Opera
- Deidamia, HWV.42 — Opera
- Ezio, HWV.29 — Opera
- Faramondo, HWV.39 — Opera
- Flavio, rè di Longobardi, HWV.16 — Opera
- Floridante, HWV.14 — Opera
- Giove in Argo, HWV.A14 — Opera
- Giustino, HWV.37 — Opera
- Il pastor fido, HWV.8a — Opera
- Imeneo, HWV.41 — Opera
- Lotario, HWV.26 — Opera
- Muzio Scevola, HWV.13 — Opera
- Orlando, HWV.31 — Opera
- Ottone, rè di Germania, HWV.15 — Opera
- Partenope, HWV.27 — Opera
- Radamisto, HWV.12 — Opera
- Riccardo Primo, rè d'Inghilterra, HWV.23 — Opera
- Rinaldo, HWV.7 — Opera
- Rodelinda, regina de' Longobardi, HWV.19 — Opera
- Rodrigo, HWV.5 — Opera
- Scipione, HWV.20 — Opera
- Siroe, rè di Persia, HWV.24 — Opera
- Tamerlano, HWV.18 — Opera
- Teseo, HWV.9 — Opera
- Tolomeo, rè d'Egitto, HWV.25 — Opera
- Xerxes, HWV.40, "Serse" — Opera
- Keyboard
- Harpsichord Suite in E, HWV.430, "The Harmonious Blacksmith"
- Air in E major, HWV.425
- Air in G minor, HWV.467
- Air in A major, HWV.468
- Allegro for clock organ in C major, HWV.473
- Aylesford Pieces for Keyboard
- Bagatelle, for keyboard
- Capriccio in F major, HWV.481
- Chaconne in G major, HWV.435
- Chaconne in G minor, HWV.259
- Chaconne in G minor, HWV.486
- Chaconne with 2 sets of keys in F major, HWV.485
- Chaconne with 49 variations in C major, HWV.484
- Concerto in B flat major, for harpsichord, winds and strings
- Fantasia in C major, HWV.490
- Fughetta
- Fugue in A minor, HWV.609
- Fugue in B flat major, HWV.607
- Fugue in B minor, HWV.608
- Fugue in C minor, HWV.610
- Fugue in E major, HWV.612
- Fugue in G major, HWV.606
- Fugue in G minor, HWV.605
- Gavotte in G major, HWV.491
- Harpsichord Suite in A major, HWV.426
- Harpsichord Suite in A major, HWV.454
- Harpsichord Suite in B flat major, HWV.434
- Harpsichord Suite in B flat major, HWV.440
- Harpsichord Suite in C major, HWV.443
- Harpsichord Suite in C minor, HWV.444
- Harpsichord Suite in D minor, HWV.428
- Harpsichord Suite in D minor, HWV.436
- Harpsichord Suite in D minor, HWV.437
- Harpsichord Suite in D minor, HWV.447
- Harpsichord Suite in D minor, HWV.448
- Harpsichord Suite in E minor, HWV.429
- Harpsichord Suite in E minor, HWV.438
- Harpsichord Suite in F major, HWV.427
- Harpsichord Suite in F minor, HWV.433
- Harpsichord Suite in F sharp minor, HWV.431
- Harpsichord Suite in G major, HWV.435
- Harpsichord Suite in G major, HWV.441
- Harpsichord Suite in G major, HWV.442
- Harpsichord Suite in G minor, HWV.432
- Harpsichord Suite in G minor, HWV.439
- Harpsichord Suite in G minor, HWV.452
- Harpsichord Suite in G minor, HWV.453
- Minuet I in D and II in D minor
- Minuet in G major, HWV.531
- Minuet in G minor, HWV.540b
- Prelude in E major, HWV.566
- Sonata in G minor, HWV.580
- Sonata with double keys in G minor, HWV.579
- Sonatina in D minor, HWV.581
- Toccata in G minor, HWV.586
- Toccata no. 2, for organ
- Toccata no. 3, for organ
- Toccata no. 4, for organ
- Toccata no. 5, for organ
- Toccata no. 6, for organ
- Voluntary V, for organ
- Chamber
- 11 Pieces for Musical Clock in C major, F, and G, HWV.587-597
- 2 Arias in F major, for wind ensemble, HWV.410-411
- 6 Violin Sonatas
- 7 Pieces for Musical Clock in C and A-, HWV.598-604
- 8 Pieces for Violin and Cello
- Adagio and Allegro for violin, strings and continuo in A major, HWV.406
- Allegro in C minor, HWV.408
- Allegro in G major, for violin and continuo, HWV.407
- Andante in A minor, HWV.412
- Chamber Suite in D
- Flute Sonata in E minor, op. 1, no. 1b, HWV.359b
- Flute Sonata in B minor, op. 1, no. 9, HWV.367b
- Flute Sonata in D major, HWV.378
- Flute Sonata in D major, HWV.378
- Flute Sonata in E minor, op. 1, no. 1a, HWV.379
- Flute Sonata in G major, op. 1, no. 5, HWV.363b
- Harp Sonata in E
- Largo in F major, for oboe, 2 horns, strings and continuo, HWV.302b
- Oboe Sonata in B flat major, HWV.357
- Oboe Sonata in C minor, op. 1, no. 8, HWV.366
- Oboe Sonata in F major, HWV.363a
- Oboe Sonata in F major, HWV.363a
- Oboe Sonata in G minor, HWV.404
- Occasional Suite in D
- Passacaglia for Violin and Viola
- Prelude in B flat major, for harp
- Recorder Sonata in A minor, op. 1, no. 4, HWV.362
- Recorder Sonata in B flat major, HWV.377
- Recorder Sonata in C major, op. 1, no. 7, HWV.365
- Recorder Sonata in D minor, op. 1, no. 9a, HWV.367a
- Recorder Sonata in F major, op. 1, no. 11, HWV.369
- Recorder Sonata in G minor, op. 1, no. 2, HWV.360
- Siciliana and Giga
- Sonata a 5 for violin and strings in B flat major, HWV.288, "Sonata à Cinque"
- Trio Sonata in A major, op. 5, no. 1, HWV.396
- Trio Sonata in B flat major, HWV.380
- Trio Sonata in B flat major, op. 2, no. 3, HWV.388
- Trio Sonata in B flat major, op. 5, no. 7, HWV.402
- Trio Sonata in B minor, op. 2, no. 1, HWV.386b
- Trio Sonata in C minor, HWV.386a
- Trio Sonata in D major, op. 5, no. 2, HWV.397
- Trio Sonata in E minor, op. 5, no. 3, HWV.398
- Trio Sonata in F for 2 Recorders and Continuo, HWV.405
- Trio Sonata in F major, HWV.392
- Trio Sonata in F major, op. 2, no. 4, HWV.389
- Trio Sonata in F major, op. 5, no. 6, HWV.401
- Trio Sonata in G major, op. 5, no. 4, HWV.399
- Trio Sonata in G minor, op. 2, no. 2, HWV.387
- Trio Sonata in G minor, op. 2, no. 5, HWV.390
- Trio Sonata in G minor, op. 2, no. 6, HWV.391
- Trio Sonata in G minor, op. 5, no. 5, HWV.400
- Trumpet Sonata in F
- Viola da Gamba Sonata in G minor, op. 1, no. 6, HWV.364b
- Violin Sonata in A major, op. 1, no. 3, HWV.361
- Violin Sonata in D major, op. 1, no. 13, HWV.371
- Violin Sonata in D minor,Op. 1, no. 1, HWV.359a
- Violin Sonata in G major, HWV.358
- Violin Sonata in G minor, op. 1, no. 6, HWV.364a