Sheet Music: Lascia ch'io pianga

TitleLascia ch'io pianga
from Rinaldo
Opus numberHWV 7
ComposerGeorge Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
InstrumentationFlute and Piano
KeyE-flat major
RangeEb4–F5
Time signature3/4
Tempo66 BPM
Performance time2:40
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (98 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.2 MB)
Play-along accompanimentMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.3 MB)
Date added2011-09-06
Last updated2011-09-06
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 1.1 (average)
Categories
Arias, Baroque, Opera excerpts

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Tuesday 6 September 2011

Tune of the Day: Lascia ch'io pianga

from Handel's “Rinaldo”, arranged for flute and piano

This soprano aria by George Frideric Handel has become a very popular concert piece. The melody for the song began its life as an Asian dance in his 1705 opera Almira. As an aria the piece was first used in Handel's 1707 oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, albeit with a different text and name, “Lascia la spina”. Handel later recycled the work for his 1711 opera Rinaldo, giving the aria to the character Almirena in Act II. Rinaldo was a major triumph for Handel, and it is with this work that the aria is now chiefly associated.

Let me weep my cruel fate,
and let me sigh for liberty.
May sorrow break these chains
Of my sufferings, for pity's sake.

Thanks to Jess for suggesting this piece!