"The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" is one of two instrumental movements[1] in Solomon, an oratorio by George Frideric Handel written in May and June 1748 and premiered on 17 March 1749.
[8] Handel's contemporary William Boyce said that he "takes other men's pebbles, and polishes them into diamonds"; "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" is considered a notable example of this accomplishment.
Handel adapted this first for a trio for two clarinets and corno da caccia, then as a sinfonia probably intended for some other work now unknown, improving the rhythm of the piece each time.
[8] Though Solomon as a whole is today rarely performed, "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" has been a very popular piece through the 20th and 21st centuries, being, for example, frequently played at wedding ceremonies.
[13] It made a very prominent appearance in the 2012, being played during the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games,[11] and another in 2023 as part of the coronation service of Charles III.