The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba was originally scored by Handel as a  sinfonia for two oboes and strings and was first performed in London on March 17, 1749, as the opening scene to Act III in his oratorio Solomon. Solomon is rarely performed in its entirety, but Handel’s energetic and memorable “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” an orchestral interlude is often performed as a stand alone concert item . It is popular today played during wedding ceremonies and recently reached audiences worldwide when it featured in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
 
Grading
D
 
Scoring
Piccolo Trumpet or Eb Trumpet or Eb Soprano Cornet, 4 Bb Trumpets, 2 flugelhorns (could be played on trumpet or cornet)
C Trumpet parts as an alternative to all parts above available on request.