Rigadoon

It was the Schulze firm that first introduced the Lieblich Gedact to the English organ world at the 1851 Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace.

This performance uses only 2 stops - the Great Gedact 8' and the Lieblich Gedact 8' of the Choir for the "echos."

By definition, a riguadon (rigadoon) is a is a French baroque dance with a lively duple metre. The music is similar to that of a bourrée, but the rigaudon is rhythmically simpler with regular phrases (eight measure phrases are most common).

This charming work comes from Handel's first opera, "Almira, Königin von Castilien ," composed in 1705, when the composer was 19.

This arrangement comes from "Ceremonial Music for Organ, Book 2," published by Oxford University Press in 1974.

The book was edited and arranged by Christoper Dearnley (1930 – 2000), who was a well-known recitalist, and served as organist of Salisbury Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral.