O be joyful in the Lord HWV 246

<p>Composed in late 1717 or 1718 while composer in residence at Cannons in Little Stanmore for James Brydges later first Duke of Chandos. The 20-minute anthem was likely given its premiere at Brydge's private chapel at the nearby church of St Lawrence Whitchurch. The forces employed are notably smaller than some of Handel's earlier works of the period like the <em>Utrecht Te Deum</em> and <em>Jubilate</em> which were composed for an elaborate service given at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The soli and chorus omit the altos the string orchestra employed likewise omits violas and winds are reduced to a singe oboe and bassoon.</p><p></p><p>Clark McAlister's new edition is based lagely on the Chrysander's 1871 score in which that editor helpfully provided a keyboard reduction here somewhat revised by co-editor Alex Samarin. Like all recent Serenissima vocal scores this one is produced in a very easy-to-read A4 format and offered at a reasonable price.</p>