The Cuckoo and the Nightingale (concerto)

The Cuckoo and the Nightingale, HWV 295, is an organ concerto in four movements by George Frideric Handel.

The concerto premiered in London in 1739 as an interlude during the first performance of the composer's oratorio Israel in Egypt.

Handel's organ playing supplied an element of virtuosity which was probably missing from the singing because his oratorios were written for less highly trained singers than the operas.

Organists differ in their approach to this movement with George Malcolm's recording taking about a minute and Richard Egarr about three.

The same publisher, John Walsh, brought out "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" in 1740 as part of a second set (which bears no opus number).