ornament realization

The performance of written ornament signs (trills, mordents, turns, appoggiaturas) according to Baroque conventions. Handel's ornaments follow predominantly French and Italian practice as codified in his era.

In Handel, trills generally begin on the upper auxiliary note, not the main note, especially when approached from above. The number of alternations depends on the note value and tempo. Mordents (lower auxiliary) are shorter and snappier. Never delay the ornament — it should fall on the beat, not before it. When in doubt, consult Handel's own ornament table, which survives in manuscript.