Handel's Musical Showmanship in Alexander's Feast

Welcome to this episode of Origins od Music. Handel turned Alexander's Feast into a showcase

for his own keyboard genius by embedding organ solos directly into the score and tossing in extra

concertos to stretch the evening. The built-in organ concerto wasn't just filler.

It's strategically placed where the text praises St Cecilia, patron saint of

music, so the organ itself becomes a character, embodying the sacred power of sound.

Meanwhile, the harp and concerto grosso weave through the vocal numbers like instrumental

commentary on the drama unfolding. But here's the kicker. Alexander's Feast alone was too short

for a full concert, so Handel basically said, I'll fix that myself. He inserted additional