Whereer you Walk from Semele (Voice.414.01) (Programme note: Semele, written in 1743, a time when Handel was primarily writing oratorio, is a 3 act opera but was presented by the composer as an oratorio to ensure performance and payment. Its mythological subject matter, based on the classical story of Semele, mother of Bacchus, alienated its audience which expected biblical material for its Lenten oratorio. It was neglected for 200 years but since its restoration has been one of Handels more popular operas. The plot is concerned with love between Semele and Jupiter. Although this union ends badly the good news is that it results in the birth of Bacchus, the god of wine. The opera ends with the celebration of this unexpected outcome. Whereer you Walk is sung by Jupiter near the end of Act 2 having transformed the scene into Arcadia as a distraction to amuse the discontented Semele. Whereer you walk cool gales will fan the glade; Trees, where you sit shall crowd into a shade, Whereer you tread, the blush-ing flowrs shall rise, and all things flour-ish, wher-eer you turn your eyes. Performance note: This version can be performed as a trombone solo or with a voice or voices replacing the instrumental solo line. Handel asks for it to be played pianissimo throughout. The accompaniment, then, should be extremely soft in texture but avoid becoming pale and characterless; make some slight nuances of shape in the phrases but ensure that the dynamic in the upward rising accompaniment figures is very controlled A small trumpet (probably E flat) for the 1st part may help with this. The repeated quavers in the lower parts can be very slightly stressed to give a gentle pulse but still within a sostenuto style. Avoid any heaviness in the doubled bass line. An alternative da capo is provided for the trombone solo; this can be altered at the discretion of the player.)
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