Laudate pueri Dominum

Laudate pueri Dominum (HWV237) is part of a greater compiled work that has various names among which are Handel Vespers - Carmelite Vespers - The Roman Vespers of 1707. For the purpose of clarity all the works below including "Laudate pueri Dominum" are referred to, and included in our "Handel Vespers" set.

This work comprises the following items

Dixit Dominus (Psalm 110) HWV232
Laudate pueri Dominum (Psalm 112) HWV237
Nisi Dominus (Psalm 127) HWV238

And the following Solo Items

Te Decus Virgineum - Antiphon HWV243
Haec est Regina Virginium - Antiphon HWV235
Saeviat tellus inter rigores - Motet HWV240
Salve Regina HWV241

All the above choral and the solo parts comprise the entire work. SSATB and Soli.

The Handel Vespers is a composite work, which means that it is a collection of various separate works by Handel, which experts believe to be composed for a special Vespers service at the Carmelite Church of Santa Maria di Monte Santo in Rome in July 1707. There is no definitive title for this collection of works.

Whether the works were intended for the first Vespers on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or the second Vespers on the day itself (July 16) remains a mystery. The various editions provide the works above in a varying order. We have tried to follow the order of most editions, following the liturgical sequence. It is important to note that parts of the liturgy including the Magnificat. are sung in plainsong, and are outside the scope of our recordings. We have focused on Handel's compositions alone for this service. It should be noted that Handel provided little ornamentation in this work, most ornamentation is editorial, and we have strived to be loyal to Handel's ornamentation only.

The Psalms (above) are often sung individually as each is a work in their own right. This work comprises some of Handel's most beautiful music, however the text in some of the solos is specific to the Carmelite Order.

The training aids have an orchestral accompaniment with the voice part highlighted with piano for the choir, and a wind instrument for the soloists. Please see the catalogue pages for a comprehensive listing for each CD.

Soloists can hear their part instrumentally on the complete accompaniment version. HV16. There is also a recording for choir and soloists, where there is no help, just as the orchestra would play it. HV17. Both these complete recordings include an Overture and Organ Sonata included in some editions include.

Listen to the Choir and Solo samples below selected from (Vespers (Carmelite Vespers - The Roman Vespers of 1707) - Handel). If you do not see the player below, please ensure that the free Shockwave Player Plugin is installed in your browser.