Composition: Samson, HWV 57 (Handel, George Frideric)
| Title | Samson |
| Alternative title | Samson an oratorio |
| Creators | George Frideric Handel (composer) and Newburgh Hamilton (librettist) |
| Opus | HWV 57 |
| Instrumentation | voices, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 3 |
| Keys | — |
| Composed | 1741 |
| First published | 1743 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | — |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred oratorios |
| Language | English |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
(No sections)
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Selections | organ | William Thomas Best |
| view | Selections | piano | Edward Francis Rimbault |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | orchestra | Ebenezer Prout |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | harpsichord organ |
— |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | organ | Howard Elmore Parkhurst |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | guitar | Francisco Tárrega |
| view | Chorus: Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound (Act I, Sc.1, No.3) | piano | Charles-Valentin Alkan |
| view | Aria: Why does the God of Israel sleep? (Act I, Sc.3, No.23) | piano 4 hands | Carl Czerny |
| view | Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) | voice and orchestra | — |
| view | Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) | wind band and percussion | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) | voice, trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | John Walsh | 1743 | Complete Score · view Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | selections | John Walsh | 1743 | Overture and Arias · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Novello | — | Flute 1 · view Flute 2 · view Oboe 1 · view Oboe 2 · view Horn 1 · view Horn 2 · view Trumpet 1* · view Trumpet 2* · view Trombone 1 · view Trombone 2 · view Trombone 3 · view Timpani* · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos and Basses · view |
| view | Complete | parts,selections | — | — | Let Their Celestial Concerts all Unite - Trumpet in C · view Let The Bright Seraphim - Trumpet in C · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Button & Whitaker | — | Complete Score (filter) · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Richault | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Lemoine | 1910 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | selections,vocal score | Manuscript | — | Air (Tenor): Loud as the thunder's awful voice · view |
| view | Complete | selections,vocal score | Manuscript | — | Air (Soprano): Then free from sorrow · view |
| view | Complete | selections,vocal score | Firth | — | Air: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) · view |
| view | Complete | selections,vocal score | — | — | Air (Tenor): Total eclipse! · view Air (Tenor): Thus when the sun · view |
| view | Complete | selections,vocal score | — | — | Air (Bass): Thy glorious deeds inspired my tongue · view Air (Bass): Honor and arms · view Air (Bass): How willing my paternal love · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for organ |
Novello | — | 1. Overture · view 30. Then round about the starry Throne · view 50. Honour and arms scorn such a foe · view 60. Fix'd in his everlasting seat · view 81. Symphony: Dead March · view 87. Let their celestial concerts · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for piano |
D'Almaine and Co. | — | Airs and Choruses · view |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | Arrangement for orchestra |
Novello | — | Flute 1/2 · view Oboe 1/2 · view Clarinet 1/2 (C) · view Bassoon 1/2 · view Horn 1/2 (G) · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos/Basses · view |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | Arrangement for harpsichord organ |
Montréal: Les Éditions Outremontaises | 2011 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | Arrangement for organ |
Carl Fischer | 1913 | Minuet in G major · view |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | Arrangement for guitar |
Vidal Llimona y Boceta | 1906 | Minuet in G major · view |
| view | Overture or Sinfonia (Act I, No.1) | Arrangement for guitar |
Vlotho: Stefan Apke | 2017 | Minuet in G major · view |
| view | Chorus: Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound (Act I, Sc.1, No.3) | Arrangement for piano |
Richault | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Aria: Why does the God of Israel sleep? (Act I, Sc.3, No.23) | Arrangement for piano 4 hands |
N. Simrock | — | Complete Score · view Complete Score · view |
| view | Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) | Arrangement for voice and orchestra | Novello | — | Clarinet 1 (B) · view Clarinet 2 (B) · view Bassoon 1 · view Bassoon 2 · view Trumpet (B) · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos · view Basses · view |
| view | Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) | Arrangement for wind band and percussion |
Michel Rondeau | 2018 | Complete Score and Parts · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
| view | Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) | Arrangement for voice, trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Parts · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
Recordings/Performances
| Details | Type | Section | Ensemble | Performers | Arranged for | Files | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Synthesized | Selections | A Far Cry (ensemble) | — | 11. Total Eclipse; 38. Your Charms to ruin · file | ||
| view | Synthesized | Selections | — | Dame Joan Sutherland (soprano) and Harry Dilley (trumpet) and Royal Opera Chorus (orchestra) and Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (conductor) | — | Let the bright seraphim · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Selections | — | Dame Joan Sutherland (soprano) and Richard Bonynge (conductor) | — | With plaintive notes · file | |
| view | Synthesized | — | — | Héctor Valls (piano) | For Piano | Air (Tenor): Total eclipse! · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Aria: Let the Bright Seraphim (Act III, Sc.3) | — | — | Wind Band and Percussion · file Voice, Trumpet and Organ · file |
©2025 David P. Anderson