Handel seldom set texts in his native language but for the Nine German Arias he took poems by Barthold Heinrich Brockes, called Earthly Pleasure in God, setting them for soprano, violin and basso continuo. The texts inspired Handel to write music of great intensity and melodic beauty, qualities augmented by an almost operatic sense of declamation. The Gloria dates from Handel’s stay in Italy and since its rediscovery in 2001 has become a major addition to his Latin Church music. Dorothea Craxton “has a beautiful voice, sings with care for the text and phrases sensitively.” (MusicWeb International on Naxos 8570981 / Fanny Hensel: Songs).