Air (Hornpipe) HWV 355 by G F Handel

[Andy Boden]

This hornpipe was originally in C minor. For this arrangement I have raised it a tone to D minor, which makes it easier to vary the instrument line-up to suit different ensemble configurations. I have scored it for two mandolins, Octave mandola and guitar. However (with minor modification) the mandola part can be played using Alto Mandola (CGDA) or a 3rd mandolin. Also the Guitar part could be played (with minor modification) on an Octave mandola or Mandocello, and a bass-clef part is also included.

This is an interesting piece to play. It is nominally in 3/2 time (three beats in the bar/measure) but there are sections when Handel obviously changes to 6/4 time (2 beats in the bar) and there are occasions when the accents can be changed so that different parts are playing with a different 'feel' at the same time. The fact that the character of the piece moves so seamlessly from one to the other
is testament to Handel's great mastery.

Other interesting effects can be achieved by playing around with section dynamics (not marked - I leave that to the players/director to interpret as they will), addition of a bass octave doubling the lowest part in places, and even having the piece played by two separate groups, splitting the piece between them and playing in a 'question/answer' fashion (i.e. cantoris & decani)




Score and various part configurations in the zip file on my webpage at

http://www.andyboden.com/baroque.html


Andy

[Martin Jonas]

Thanks, Andy -- that looks great! I very much enjoyed your earlier trio arrangement of Handel's hornpipe in D major, HWV 356 (Link) and I'm sure I'll enjoy this one, too.

Martin

[Andy Boden]

Thanks Martin. I didn't actually do a great deal of arranging - it's more of a transcription of the string quartet version as available at

http://imslp.org/wiki/Hornpipe_Aria_...orge_Frideric)