Description
Solomon, is an oratorio written in 1748 by the German-born English composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). It is largely based on the biblical stories of Solomon, King of Israel.
Although the oratorio is rarely performed in its entirety, the prelude to the third Act – a short, lively orchestral prelude, officially entitled Sinfonia – heralds the commencement of the Queen of Sheba’s state visit to Jerusalem. With her she brought “a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones”.
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – as it now more commonly known – remains popular at weddings. As a much-loved processional piece it was even used as the background music during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in a sequence in which James Bond (Daniel Craig) goes to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Originally scored for two oboes and strings it demands a considerable degree of dexterity. In this arrangement the semiquaver passages are more evenly distributed, particularly (but not exclusively) amongst the upper wind.
