Hyperion Records

Op 7 No 4 in D minor was probably assembled by Smith after Handel’s death. The first movement was composed in 1738 as a Concerto (Adagio) for two organs and orchestra. (Both here and in the last movement of Op 7 No 5 it seemed appropriate for us to supplement the bass line with a Baroque contra-bassoon, using as a precedent Handel’s instruction for ‘Basson Grosso’ with organ in L’Allegro.) The second movement, marked with the unusual tempo indication Allegro così così (similar in intent to the more familiar Allegro non troppo), dates from between 1744 and 1746. A third movement (the Prelude from the D minor Harpsichord Suite) is included on this recording, while the fourth was a great favourite of Handel and may pre-date his move to England. He re-used this material several times; in a Concerto for violin and orchestra of 1712 and as the Presto in a Harpsichord Suite of 1720.

from notes by Marc Rochester © 1997