Free Oak Park children's concert features music of G.F. Handel

Oak Park’s Handel Week Festival will present a free children’s concert of Handel’s most accessible, interesting and child-friendly works at Grace Episcopal Church, 924 Lake St., Oak Park on Saturday, April 18, 2015.

Baroque composer G.F. Handel had a place in his heart for children, especially orphans. In 1750 Handel donated a large portion of the profits from Messiah, his most popular work, to the London Foundling Hospital. Any child studying the Suzuki violin method will recognize some of Handel’s simple music for children’s choruses.

The concert’s program will include a full children’s choir, highlights from Messiah, Semele, Acis and Galatea, the Harpsichord, a string quartet, and a flute sonata.

• Allemande from Suite in E Major H.W.V. 430 - Harpsichord
• Andante from the Sonata in E Minor for Flute and Basso Continuo H.W.V. 379 - Flute soloist
• O Ruddier than the Cherry from Acis and Galatea H.W.V. 49 - Baritone
• But who may abide the day from Messiah H.W.V. 56 - Alto
• Andante from Concerto Grosso in Bb Opus 6 # 7, H.W.V. 325 String quartet
• Wheree’re you walk from Semele H.W.V. 58 - The Schola Choir of Grace Episcopal Church

Handel Week is the only organization in Chicago dedicated to the music of George Frideric Handel (b. Feb. 23, 1685- d. 1759). Handel Week is now extended to three performances in consecutive weeks. Conceived 16 years ago as the western suburbs’ answer to the highly successful Bach Week Festival in Evanston, Handel Week stands alone as one of Chicago’s best sources for top-quality, professional performances of Handel’s music. www.handelweek.com

Handel Week is supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council and the Oak Park Area Arts Council.