Piper's SongbookHow to play See, the Conquering Hero Comes on recorder
See, the Conquering Hero Comes uses 7 notes on the soprano recorder: B, A, G, high C, high D, high E and high G. The first line goes D′ B C′ D′ G A B C′ D′ C′ B A.
- Notes
- 7: B, A, G, high C, high D, high E, high G
- Level
- Thumb pinch
- Time
- 2/2, about 100 beats a minute
- Source
- G. F. Handel, 1747
See, the Conquering Hero Comes recorder notes with letters
Each box is one note, with its fingering underneath: filled holes are covered, a half-filled hole is half covered or pinched. Wider boxes are longer notes. A ′ mark means the higher octave, so D′ is high D. Bar lines are drawn as thin rules.
Line 1
Line 2
Letters only, for printing or copying
- D′ B C′ | D′ G | A B C′ D′ C′ B | A
- B C′ D′ E′ D′ D′ | G′ D′ | C′ B A A G | G
Sheet music
Written pitch for soprano recorder, which sounds an octave higher. Press play to hear it on a recorder sound; the slow setting plays at 60% speed.
Fingerings for the notes in See, the Conquering Hero Comes
Hole 0 is the thumb hole on the back. Holes 1 to 3 are for the left hand, 4 to 7 for the right. These are Baroque (English) fingerings.
How to practise it
The first strain leaps between high D and G. The second strain climbs to high G, so pinch the thumb and blow a little harder there.
Learn one line at a time. Play it slowly until every note is clean, then join it to the next line.
About the tune
Handel's chorus of welcome, written in 1747 and later added to his oratorio Judas Maccabaeus. Churches sing the same tune as the Easter hymn "Thine Be the Glory".
Questions
Is See, the Conquering Hero Comes easy on recorder?
It suits a player who already knows the notes from low D to high D. It also needs the thumb pinch for the high notes.
What notes do you need for See, the Conquering Hero Comes on recorder?
B, A, G, high C, high D, high E and high G. Tap a note to see its fingering on its own page.
Do these fingerings work on a German recorder?
Yes. Every note in See, the Conquering Hero Comes uses the same fingering on Baroque and German recorders.
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Notes checked against the Piper's Songbook transcription, compared against two or more independent sources. Last checked 6 October 2026.