Holland Baroque & Alexander Weimann by Hayes, W., Händel, fre. 20 apr. 2018, Fra (2018/2018), Dirigent Alexander Weimann, Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Holland Baroque discovered The Fall of Jericho, an oratorium by William Hayes. The English composer was an enthusiastic fan and ambassador of Händel’s music. How does it sound? His style is high baroque with galant characteristics. All the stops were pulled out to shake and drop the walls of Jericho: The choir cries, curses and shouts, and the earth trembles. Trumpets, timpani’s, hobo’s and bassoons crescendo in dissonant chords. His style of writing is emotional and he wears his heart on his sleeve. And yes, the walls are tumbling down. ‘The Fall of Jericho’ and ‘Dixit Dominus’ both express the power of God. Händel wrote ‘Dixit Dominus’ when he was 22 years old in Italy. The piece became a sensation right away. The psalm setting is like ‘The Fall of Jericho’: exuberant music full of of emotion and power.