Lascia ch'io pianga is a soprano aria by composer George Frideric Handel which has become a popular concert piece.

 

Originally the melody was composed as a dance for his opera Almira but as an aria the work has appeared in several of Handel's works including his oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno under the name Lascia la Spina.

 

In 1711 Handel re-cycled the work again and included it in his celebrated opera Rinaldo giving the aria to the character Almirena in Act II. Rinaldo was a major triumph for Handel, and it is with this work that the aria is chiefly associated.

 

This well-known aria has been arranged for brass quartet by Lisa Childs and is a simple but highly effective piece which will offer a moment of reflection in any concert.