Georg Friedrich Händel

Jesu meine Freude

For horn in F and organ, score 3 p., horn part

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759) wrote a considerable amount of church music in the Anglican tradition. His paraphrase of the German hymn Jesu meine Freude is the only chorale prelude by Händel that we know of. The previously written Harpsichord Sonata HWV 580 serves as an introduction because its bass line is closely related to the present chorale prelude.

In the world of horn and brass ensemble music from the 18th and 19th centuries, original high-quality ensemble repertoire appears to be scarce. Additionally, students and advanced amateurs are rarely given the opportunity to perform important Romantic symphonic works by Bruckner, Mahler etc. and Wagner's great operas in their original versions. Orchestral part studies with only the original parts, and above all, a lot of rest are not always inspiring. For this reason, throughout his extensive career as a horn pedagogue, Herman Jeurissen wrote a considerable number of arrangements. These include shorter compositions by the great masters, allowing for an accessible introduction to their style and writing.