1 1

Danny Driver - Handel: The 8 Great Suites for Keyboard [CD]

Danny Driver - Handel: The 8 Great Suites for Keyboard [CD]

£19.98
£19.98
Sale Sold out
Danny Driver’s recordings of CPE Bach’s keyboard works have been much admired: praised by critics as deeply stylish and revelatory accounts of eighteenth-century works on a modern piano, with Driver’s impeccable pianism constantly present. Now he turns to Handel’s ‘Eight Great Suites’, largely written when the composer was resident in Cannons, near London. The ‘Great Suites’ are an inspired, idiosyncratic amalgam of Gallic courtly dances, Italian vocal lyricism, Teutonic counterpoint and robust English tunefulness. Whereas Bach’s keyboard suites follow broadly similar patterns, centred on the traditional French dance sequence of Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue, Handel’s are unpredictable, with no two suites alike in the number and ordering of their movements. There are fugues, arias with variations, Italian-style sonata movements, even (in No 7) a Passacaglia. Compared with the elaborate finish of Bach’s suites, Handel’s often give the impression of written-down improvisations. In the fantasia-like Preludes, especially, Handel hints at his own genius as extemporiser, while leaving plenty to the performer’s own imagination.
View full details
Description
Danny Driver’s recordings of CPE Bach’s keyboard works have been much admired: praised by critics as deeply stylish and revelatory accounts of eighteenth-century works on a modern piano, with Driver’s impeccable pianism constantly present. Now he turns to Handel’s ‘Eight Great Suites’, largely written when the composer was resident in Cannons, near London. The ‘Great Suites’ are an inspired, idiosyncratic amalgam of Gallic courtly dances, Italian vocal lyricism, Teutonic counterpoint and robust English tunefulness. Whereas Bach’s keyboard suites follow broadly similar patterns, centred on the traditional French dance sequence of Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue, Handel’s are unpredictable, with no two suites alike in the number and ordering of their movements. There are fugues, arias with variations, Italian-style sonata movements, even (in No 7) a Passacaglia. Compared with the elaborate finish of Bach’s suites, Handel’s often give the impression of written-down improvisations. In the fantasia-like Preludes, especially, Handel hints at his own genius as extemporiser, while leaving plenty to the performer’s own imagination.
Track Listing

<b>Suite No 1 in A major HWV426 | </b>Prelude [2'22]

<b>Suite No 6 in F sharp minor HWV431 | </b>Prelude [2'12]

<b>Suite No 1 in A major HWV426 | </b>Allemande [3'50]

<b>Suite No 6 in F sharp minor HWV431 | </b>Largo [1'57]

<b>Suite No 1 in A major HWV426 | </b>Courante [2'31]

<b>Suite No 6 in F sharp minor HWV431 | </b>Allegro | Fugue [2'47]

<b>Suite No 1 in A major HWV426 | </b>Gigue [3'13]

<b>Suite No 6 in F sharp minor HWV431 | </b>Gigue [3'00]

<b>Suite No 2 in F major HWV427 | </b>Adagio [2'30]

<b>Suite No 7 in G minor HWV432 | </b> Ouverture [6'07]

<b>Suite No 2 in F major HWV427 | </b>Allegro [2'19]

<b>Suite No 7 in G minor HWV432 | </b> Andante [3'21]

<b>Suite No 2 in F major HWV427 | </b>Adagio [1'31]

<b>Suite No 7 in G minor HWV432 | </b> Allegro [2'25]

<b>Suite No 2 in F major HWV427 | </b>Allegro | Fugue [2'09]

<b>Suite No 7 in G minor HWV432 | </b> Sarabande [3'23]

<b>Suite No 3 in D minor HWV428 | </b>Prelude [1'01]

Gigue [1'35]

<b>Suite No 3 in D minor HWV428 | </b>Allegro | Fugue [2'32]

<b>Suite No 7 in G minor HWV432 | </b> Passacaille | Chaconne [4'26]

<b>Suite No 3 in D minor HWV428 | </b>Allemande [3'46]

<b>Suite No 8 in F minor HWV433 | </b> Prelude [2'19]

<b>Suite No 3 in D minor HWV428 | </b>Courante [1'32]

<b>Suite No 8 in F minor HWV433 | </b> Allegro | Fugue [2'27]

<b>Suite No 3 in D minor HWV428 | </b>Air, with five variations [8'51]

<b>Suite No 8 in F minor HWV433 | </b> Allemande [2'51]

<b>Suite No 3 in D minor HWV428 | </b>Presto [4'25]

<b>Suite No 8 in F minor HWV433 | </b> Courante [1'50]

<b>Suite No 4 in E minor HWV429 | </b>Allegro | Fugue [3'21]

<b>Suite No 8 in F minor HWV433 | </b> Gigue [2'36]

<b>Suite No 4 in E minor HWV429 | </b>Allemande [2'35]

<b>Suite in C minor Partita HWV444 | </b>Prelude [1'44]

<b>Suite No 4 in E minor HWV429 | </b>Courante [1'52]

<b>Suite in C minor Partita HWV444 | </b>Allemande (HWV445 version) [4'26]

<b>Suite No 4 in E minor HWV429 | </b>Sarabande [5'13]

<b>Suite in C minor Partita HWV444 | </b>Courante [1'50]

<b>Suite No 4 in E minor HWV429 | </b>Gigue [1'48]

<b>Suite in C minor Partita HWV444 | </b>Gavotte [1'03]

<b>Suite No 5 in E major HWV430 | </b>Prelude [1'54]

<b>Suite in C minor Partita HWV444 | </b> Menuet [1'01]

<b>Suite No 5 in E major HWV430 | </b>Allemande [4'10]

<b>Suite in E minor HWV438 | </b>Allemande [2'58]

<b>Suite No 5 in E major HWV430 | </b>Courante [1'49]

<b>Suite in E minor HWV438 | </b>Sarabande [3'09]

<b>Suite No 5 in E major HWV430 | </b>Air, with five variations The harmonious blacksmit

<b>Suite in E minor HWV438 | </b>Gigue [1'45]

<b>Chaconne in G major HWV435</b>

Details
  • Genre: Classical
  • Product Type: AUDIO CD
  • Barcode: 34571280417
  • Release Date: September 29, 2025
Delivery and Returns
Dispatch Information: Dispatch times vary by item and items are only dispatched on UK working days – not weekends or UK Bank Holidays. Items marked "Dispatched Same Day" will be dispatched on the day of purchase if bought before 2pm GMT. "Dispatched Same Day" items bought after 2pm GMT or on a non-working day will be dispatched on the next working day. We aim to dispatch all other items within 3-5 working days.

Delivery Information: We aim to deliver your order as quickly and efficiently as possible. All UK orders are dispatched using Royal Mail 48 Tracked service and the standard delivery times are 2-3 business days. Please note that delivery times for overseas orders will vary depending on your location and the shipping option you choose during checkout.

Shipping Costs: We offer free delivery on all UK orders and free worldwide delivery on orders over £15.

Tracking Your Order: All UK orders are tracked. Once your order is dispatched, you will receive a tracking number via email. You can use this tracking number to monitor the progress of your delivery on the Royal Mail Track and Trace website.

Returns and Exchanges: We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you are not happy with your order, you may return it within 28 days of the item being dispatched for a refund or exchange. Please note the following guidelines:
- Items must be returned in their original condition and packaging – items that have been opened or had shrink wrap removed are not eligible for return or refund.
- Make sure to include your order number in the returned package.

How to Initiate a Return: To initiate a return or exchange, please contact our customer service team. The team is available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about the process.

Refund Processing: Refunds will be processed as soon as we receive your item back into our warehouse. Replacements are subject to availability and if a replacement is not available, a refund will be issued.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service team or check out our FAQ’s. We're here to help ensure your shopping experience is enjoyable and hassle-free. Thank you for choosing Chalkys!