For unto us a Child is Born

Chiltern Recorder Consort Series

George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel baptised Georg Friedrich Händel, German; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi and organ concertos. He was strongly influenced both by the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition and by composers of the Italian Baroque. In turn, Handel's music forms one of the peaks of the "high baroque" style, bringing Italian opera to its highest development, creating the genres of English oratorio and organ concerto, and introducing a new style into English church music. He is consistently recognized as one of the greatest composers of his age.

George Frideric Handel wrote his beloved oratorio Messiah in a three-week burst of intense activity during the fall of 1741. While legend declares that this accelerated fervor resulted from divine inspiration, it was certainly helped by the fact that in some parts of Messiah, Handel recycled his own music. The well-known chorus, “For unto Us a Child Is Born,” for example, is a reworking of an Italian duet, “Nò, di voi non vo’ fidarmi,” that Handel had composed just a few months earlier. But while the duet remains relatively unknown, its choral cousin is now regarded as one of the most glorious expressions of sacred joy in the Christmas repertory, and an enduring Christmas tradition.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given:
And the government shall be upon His shoulder;
And His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor,
The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.

Alex Ayre was a British recorder teacher and performer who arranged over 500 pieces, of mainly English Renaissance and Baroque music, for recorder ensembles. 

Score: 12 pages. 8 parts @ 2 pages ea.