Händel - Prelude, Sonata, Air and Variations in B-flat major, HWV434.I-III

[jlh]

From a recital last Spring (2011).  Comments encouraged!

Best,
Josh

[birba]

Really lovely.  So good to hear Handel at the piano!!!  I can't remember when I last heard something like this.  You play it very well.  I'm just curious as to what edition you used.  I like your embellishments and variations on the repeats. 
That said, I must admit I would have preferred it with much less pedal.  You have the clarity and agility and I think the pedal distorts it at times.  I am certainly not a "purist" when it comes to the baroque repertoire, but I did miss a certain sort of baroque style.
At any rate, I enjoyed very much listening to this. 

[birba]

Oh, I didn't really comment on the prelude.  That's why I was curious to the edition you used or who suggested the resolution of those chords.  I found it a little tedious.  It didn't have that improvised quality to it.

[jlh]

Oh, I didn't really comment on the prelude.  That's why I was curious to the edition you used or who suggested the resolution of those chords.  I found it a little tedious.  It didn't have that improvised quality to it.

Thanks for listening!  In reference to the arpeggiated chords in the Prelude, Handel simply wrote the chords as blocked half notes and said to arpeggiate them.  It's up to the performer to figure out something that works.

Thanks!

Josh