Handel vs. Scarlatti - Passacaglia [God Rot Tunbridge Wells!] - Harpsichord Battle

- Introduction -

This video is long overdue. I created this MIDI/sheet music in early August and was going to make a video for it, but I got busy and forgot about it. Three months later, I finally made a video. I tried a different style than I usually use for these visualized videos and included the background of the place (Palazzo Ruspoli) where Handel and Scarlatti duel in the movie "God Rot Tunbridge Wells". I also changed the note style to look more baroque with ornaments in the notes.

I hope you enjoy this video. It took me a while to create the sheet music. Since there is no sheet music for the arrangement in the movie available online, I had to listen to the duel many times in order to identify the changes, ensuring that the transcription is 99% accurate for you guys. ♡

- About God Rot Tunbridge Wells -

The 1985 British musical television film "God Rot Tunbridge Wells!" is set in the 18th century and shows the final days of the composer George Frideric Handel, as he grapples with his mortality and reflects on his musical career. The film blends drama, music, and humor, offering a poignant view into the life and legacy of his musical genius.

At the heart of the film lies Handel's unwavering dedication to music, even as he faces the inevitable decline of his physical abilities. His passion for music is evident in every scene, from his meticulous rehearsals to his fiery temper when confronted with mediocrity. The film also explores Handel's complex personality, revealing a man of contradictions – brilliant yet flawed, arrogant yet compassionate.

One of the film's most memorable moments is the legendary harpsichord battle between George Handel and Domenico Scarlatti, two titans of Baroque music. The scene is a display of their virtuosity and improvisation, as the two composers engage in a musical duel that showcases their mastery of the instrument. Passacaglia, is the piece that they play that provides a fitting backdrop for this intense musical showdown.

The film's title, "God Rot Tunbridge Wells!", reflects Handel's disdain for the town where he heard a particularly poor performance of his oratorio "Messiah." This outburst captures Handel's perfectionism and his unwavering belief in the power of music.

- Passacaglia -

A Passacaglia is a musical form that originated in the Baroque period, characterized by a repeating bass line or harmonic progression, often in a slow triple meter. This repeated bass line, known as the "ground bass," serves as the foundation upon which the rest of the music is built. Musicians would then improvise or compose variations over this recurring bass line, creating a structured and often elaborate piece of music.

Handel's Passacaglia, also known as "Passacaille" or "Passacaglia in G minor," is one of his well-known works in this form. The original Passacaglia is a set of 15 variations over a repeating bass line in G minor. The arrangement of Handel's Passacaglia in "God Rot Tunbridge Wells!" retains most of the original variations but alters them slightly, adding different ornaments to some variations and a different coda.

- Sections -

0:00 - Moderato (Theme)
0:19 - Variation 1
0:34 - Variation 2
0:51 - Animato (Var. 3)
0:59 - Poco più mosso (Var. 4)
1:07 - Allegro (Var. 5)
1:21 - Variation 6
1:35 - Variation 7
1:50 - Variation 8
2:04 - Variation 9
2:19 - Variation 10
2:33 - Variation 11
2:47 - Variation 12
3:01 - Variation 13
3:15 - Variation 14
3:28 - Variation 15

- Sheet Music - https://musescore.com/user/33320489/s...
- Made Using SeeMusic - https://www.visualmusicdesign.com
- VST - Pianoteq Stage 8 - H. Ruckers II