Halle Handel Edition

The “Halle Handel Edition” is a scholarly-critical complete edition of the works of the composer George Frideric Handel (1685–1759). Based on all available sources and the latest research findings, it meets the needs of  both scholars and practical performance requirements. It is edited by the Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gesellschaft (which has its headquarters in Halle, Saxony) and has been published by Bärenreiter since 1955.

A co-operation between the city of Halle and Bärenreiter-Verlag, formalised contractually as early as 1943, allowed the idea of a complete edition of Handel’s works to become reality. The Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Gesellschaft was founded in Halle in 1955 and in its first year, the first volume of the HHA „Piano Works I: The eight great suites” was published.

The edition began as a co-production between Deutscher Verlag für Musik (DVfM), Leipzig and Bärenreiter, Kassel. Following the reunification of Germany and the privatisation of DVfM, Bärenreiter became the sole publisher. The financing, which was guaranteed by the German Democratic Republic state funds until 1990, now comes mainly from the Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mainz. Soon after it began, the “Halle Handel Edition”established itself as an undisputed authority regarding Handel and his music. It is scheduled for completion in 2023.

This complete edition is divided into five series. The current general editors are Terence Best and Wolfgang Hirschmann. When complete, it will comprise 116 volumes with critical commentaries.