Prom 6: Vaughan Williams and Tippett – Full Fourths (19.07.22)

[Master Jacques]

Apologies for keeping this thread off topic, but what is the Handel piece?
The only reference I can find is to the Prelude of a harpsichord suite in B flat, but none of the eight 'Suites pour clavecin' that I have (Kenneth Gilbert) is in B flat.


PS: It must be this one, HWV434:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/24920--handel-keyboard-suite-hwv-434-in-b-flat-major/browse

I'll see if I can stream it.

I'm not sure this piece has a BWV number. If it does, I can't immediately trace it. It is the 'Prélude' to the first of his Trois Leçons, in B flat major, and it consists of a series of chords, played arpeggio in many modern performances, but not in Tippett's work (nor I suspect in Butler's mind). My goodness, it's stupendous!

You'll find the first half of it here, but not the grand payoff:

https://www.sheetmusicnow.com/products/3-lecons-no-1-prelude-in-b-flat-major-p295300

It also serves, as you say, as the Prelude to HWV434, but in a form very nearly unrecognisable from the Tippett quotation. Goodness, Handel's harpsichord catalogue is a right old mess!