The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to King George I George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 23 January 1698 until his death in 1727. He was the first British monarch of the House of Hanover.George I of Great Britain
When did Handel write Water Music?
Handel composed his wonderfully jolly Water Music around 1717. and it was first performed on 17 July that year, after George I requested a concert on the River Thames. The king watched from the royal barge with various dukes and duchesses as the 50 musicians played nearby.
What instruments were used in Handel’s Water Music?
Handel’s Water Music was scored for trumpets and horns, oboes, bassoons and flutes, and violins and basses. These pieces are divided into three separate suites. The first suite, in F major (and D minor) features the new-to-the-Baroque-era French horns. The second suite in D major adds trumpets. The third suite in G is lighter with lots of flutes.
When did Handel perform in front of the king?
At the first performance in front of the King in July 1717, Handel himself sailed on a barge up the Thames with His Majesty, while another carrying some 50 musicians accompanied them. The King was besotted by Handel’s music and ordered that the suites be played twice more on the return journey to Whitehall.
Which royal works best demonstrate George Frederic Handel's musical style?
The favour George Frederic Handel found with the British Royal family contributed significantly to his musical style and output. Outside the operatic genre, pieces like the Music for the Royal Fireworks and the Coronation Anthems remain some of his most popular. Here is a roundup of four royal works which best demonstrate his musical style.
Why did Handel write the Water Music?
He needed a large, spectacular occasion to impress his English subjects. He turned to Handel for help, and requested a concert to be performed while he travelled down the Thames. Thus, Handel composed Water Music for this occasion.
Who did Handel write for?
In 1718 Handel became director of music to the duke of Chandos, for whom he composed the 11 Chandos Anthems and the English masque Acis and Galatea, among other works. Another masque, Haman and Mordecai, was to be the effective starting point for the English oratorio.
What is Handel's Water Music called?
The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to King George I's request for a concert on the River Thames.
What kind of music did Handel write?
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) was a German-British baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Most music lovers have encountered George Frideric Handel through holiday-time renditions of the Messiah's 'Hallelujah' chorus or his Music for the Royal Fireworks.
Is Handel's Messiah for Christmas or Easter?
“Messiah,” George Frederic Handel's great oratorio, has become a ubiquitous part of Christmas celebrations worldwide — and yet it was written for Easter. Only the first third of “Messiah” is about the birth of Jesus. Part II covers the death of Christ and the third is focused on the Resurrection.
What is Handel most famous for?
Handel composed Messiah, an English language oratorio, in 1741. After an initially modest public reception Messiah, one of the best Handel works, eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral pieces in Western music.
What are the movements of Handel's Water Music?
Other dance movements featured in Water Music include the sarabande, the gigue, and the rigaudon. Each of the three subsuites opens with a stately overture and concludes with a festive movement that, indeed, is reminiscent of the original performance context.
Who wrote Water Music?
George Frideric HandelWater Music / ComposerGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Wikipedia
Which are characteristics of Baroque music?
Baroque music is characterised by: long flowing melodic lines often using ornamentation (decorative notes such as trills and turns) contrast between loud and soft, solo and ensemble. a contrapuntal texture where two or more melodic lines are combined.
What are the main characteristics of Handel's music?
Handel's operas are characterised by the use of mainly high voices (female and male castrati), with roles for basses generally being assigned to rulers or old men; only later does the tenor voice begin to feature regularly.
How did Handel influence music?
Handel's most notable contribution to church music is his series of large-scale anthems, foremost of which are the 11 Chandos Anthems; though written for a small group of singers and instrumentalists, they are conceived on a grand scale.
Who is the father of music?
After being orphaned at the age of 10, he lived for five years with his eldest brother Johann Christoph, after which he continued his musical education in Lüneburg....Johann Sebastian BachBorn21 March 1685 (O.S.) 31 March 1685 (N.S.) EisenachDied28 July 1750 (aged 65) LeipzigWorksList of compositionsSignature2 more rows
Who did George Frideric Handel influence?
Most music scholars agree that Handel influenced both Mozart and Beethoven. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756 - 1791) was a prolific composer of the Classical period. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) was a German composer and pianist, and one of the most important musicians in history.
Who was the Messiah written for?
Though it was originally written for Easter, Handel's eminently singable Messiah has also become a mainstay of the festive season. Celebrate Easter by experiencing the story of Christ through one of the greatest choral works of all time – Handel's Messiah.
Did Handel and Bach ever meet?
Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederic Handel form the twin creative peaks of the18th century. Though they were born in the same country in 1685 and knew each other's music, they never met.
What is an interesting fact about Handel?
Born in 1685 in Halle, Germany, Handel was a tall, robust man, who enjoyed good food, wine and entertainment. He was nicknamed "The Great Bear" because of his size, nature and way of walking. He never married and was known to be a very private person. He died a wealthy man in 1759, aged 74.
How many movements did Handel write?
There is also debate as to whether the 22 movements were actually separated into suites at all for the first performance and it is also possible that some of the 22 movements were added later. In truth, Handel wrote most of his music to only be performed once, as was the baroque norm, and he famously edited, re-constructed and tailored his compositions at later dates to suit subsequent occasions. Therefore it is difficult to tell exactly what the King heard from his royal barge in 1717. This is particularly exhibited through the wealth of differing recordings and scores that have been produced for Water Music over the years.
How many players were in the first performance of Water Music?
The orchestra, made up of around 50 players, was so large because the sound had to carry across the busy Thames river and because the first performance was on a boat, there is no harpsichord scored for Water Music at all.
Who directed the concert Des Nations?
LE CONCERT DES NATIONS, directed by Jordi Saval, Haendel: Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks, 1993
What time did the King and his companions board a royal barge?
At 8pm, the King and his companions boarded a royal barge propelled by the rising tide. The City of London provided a larger barge for about fifty musicians, who played Water Music until midnight with only one break when the king went ashore at Chelsea.
Who composed the water music?
The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three suites, composed by George Frideric Handel.
Why was the water music written?
It was rumoured that the Water Music was composed to help King George refocus London attention from his son and heir (later George II of Great Britain ), who , worried that his time to rule would be shortened by his father's long life, threw lavish parties and dinners to compensate for it; the Water Music's first performance on the Thames was the King's way of reminding London that he was still there and showing he could carry out gestures even grander than his son's.
What instruments were used in the Handelian orchestra?
The original Handelian orchestra was composed of a handful of strings and about a dozen reed wind instruments, main ly oboes and bassoons, with an occasional reinforcement of horns, trumpets, and drums, restricted by necessity to the somewhat monotonous repetition of tonic and dominant. This makes hard going for any audience asked to listen to it with the opulent sound of a latter-day orchestra well in its ears.
What movie did King George III perform water music?
A performance of Water Music plays a major role in the movie The Madness of King George, in which King George III exhibits very erratic and inappropriate behavior at a concert, yelling at the orchestra to play louder (and eventually taking the place of the harpsichordist, playing very badly), culminating in a physical altercation with the Prince of Wales, leading to the Prince of Wales asking to be named Regent.
How many musicians were on the barge in Handel's concert?
Another barge, provided by the City of London, contained about 50 musicians who performed Handel's music. Many other Londoners also took to the river to hear the concert. According to The Courant, "the whole River in a manner was covered" with boats and barges.
What was the first water music?
The first performance of the Water Music is recorded in The Daily Courant, the first British daily newspaper . At about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 July 1717, King George I and several aristocrats boarded a royal barge at Whitehall Palace, for an excursion up the Thames toward Chelsea. The rising tide propelled the barge upstream without rowing. Another barge, provided by the City of London, contained about 50 musicians who performed Handel's music. Many other Londoners also took to the river to hear the concert. According to The Courant, "the whole River in a manner was covered" with boats and barges. On arriving at Chelsea, the king left his barge, then returned to it at about 11 p.m. for the return trip. The king was so pleased with Water Music that he ordered it to be repeated at least three times, both on the trip upstream to Chelsea and on the return, until he landed again at Whitehall.
Where did the title of the Oxford Water Music come from?
The title comes from the location of the manuscript rather than the assumed place of performance: the arrangement was possibly intended by Handel for performance at Cannons by the band of his patron the Duke of Chandos.
Why was Handel fired?
The Story of Handel’s ‘Water Music’ : Handel’s German boss fired the composer for spending all his time in London. When they met again, it was... rather awkward.
Where did George Frideric Handel live?
George Frideric Handel was employed to write music for the court of George, Elector of Hanover in Germany. He preferred, however, to live in London and write music for Queen Anne. IN 1712 George Frideric Handel, court composer to George, Elector of Hanover in Germany, visited London, with his employer’s warning that he expected him back ‘within ...
Who fired Handel?
Prince George fired him. If Handel thought he had got the better part of the bargain, he was forced to reconsider when, in 1714, Queen Anne died and was succeeded on the throne of Great Britain by none other than her second cousin George, Elector of Hanover. Fortunately, a tactful friend secured a commission for Handel to write music ...
Was Handel reemployed?
It was a tremendous success, and not long after Handel was reemployed by the King, and retained as music master to their daughters by Queen Caroline. Written for ELH.
What is Handel's water music?
Handel's Water Music is made up of three orchestral suites, written for an outdoor performance for King George I on the Thames. Handel composed his wonderfully jolly Water Music around 1717. and it was first performed on 17 July that year, after George I requested a concert on the River Thames. The king watched from the royal barge ...
How many times did the King ask the musicians to play the suites?
Exactly the sort of music you would like to waft you down the River Thames if you were a king with the weight of government on your shoulders; in fact, the king enjoyed the music so much, he asked the musicians to play the suites three times over the course of the trip down the river.
How did Handel influence the development of his musical style?
Handel’s years in Italy greatly influenced the development of his musical style. His fame had spread throughout Italy, and his mastery of the Italian opera style now made him an international figure. In 1710 he was appointed Kapellmeister to the elector of Hanover, the future King George I of England, and later that year Handel journeyed to England. In 1711 his opera Rinaldo was performed in London and was greeted so enthusiastically that Handel sensed the possibility of continuing popularity and prosperity in England. In 1712 he went back to London for the production of his operas Il pastor fido and Teseo (1713). In 1713 he won his way into royal favour by his Ode for the Queen’s Birthday and the Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate in celebration of the Peace of Utrecht, and he was granted an annual allowance of £200 by Queen Anne.
What were Handel's most famous works?
Handel’s works of the next three years included the oratorios Joseph and His Brethren (first performed 1744) and Belshazzar (1745), the secular oratorios Semele (1744) and Hercules (1745), and the Dettingen Te Deum (1743), celebrating the English victory over the French at the Battle of Dettingen.
What age did Handel become a keyboard player?
George Frideric Handel showed a marked gift for music at an early age, becoming a skilled keyboard player by age 9. Although his father did not like the idea of his son pursuing a career in music, Handel followed his musical inclination, later becoming well known for his compositions.
What happened to Handel in 1737?
Finally, in 1737, his company went bankrupt and he himself suffered what appears to have been a mild stroke. After a course of treatment at Aachen (Germany), he was restored to health and went on to compose the Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline (1737) and two of his most celebrated oratorios, Saul and Israel in Egypt, both of which were performed in 1739. He also wrote the Twelve Grand Concertos, Op. 6, and helped establish the Fund for the Support of Decayed Musicians (now the Royal Society of Musicians).
What was the name of the opera that was written in 1732?
The revivals in 1732 of Handel’s masques Acis and Galatea and Haman and Mordecai (renamed Esther) led to the establishment of the English oratorio—a large musical composition for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra, without acting or scenery, and usually dramatizing a story from the Bible in English-language lyrics.
Where was Handel born?
George Frideric Handel was born on February 23, 1685, in Halle, Brandenburg (now in Germany).
Who composed the 11 Chandos anthems?
Another masque, Haman and Mordecai, was to be the effective starting point for the English oratorio. George Frideric Handel.
Why did Handel write water music?
Thus, Handel’s ‘Water Music’ was created to help bring the occasion to life. It was composed for a relatively large orchestra, since the sound needed to carry when performed outdoors. At the first performance in front of the King in July 1717, Handel himself sailed on a barge up the Thames with His Majesty, while another carrying some 50 musicians accompanied them. The King was besotted by Handel’s music and ordered that the suites be played twice more on the return journey to Whitehall.
What was the purpose of Handel's music for the Royal Fireworks?
They were to celebrate the signing of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, which concluded the War of the Austrian Succession on 18th October, 1748. The ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’ suite was considered a huge success with over 12,000 people turning up to the final rehearsal – causing a 3-hour traffic jam of carriages in London! Despite the success of the music, the same couldn’t be said for the event itself: in true British style in front of the King, the weather declined into a rain storm. This was followed by a disaster with the fireworks where one of the wooden pavilions, erected to view the show, caught fire.
What is Handel's impact on the world?
The works of Handel have had a profound effect on both the British music and Western classical music world. Even today his pieces are still widely performed and are still often chosen to accompany, or provide background for Royal events.
What was Handel's first commission?
One of his first commissions as a British subject was to compose the music for George II’s coronation on 22nd October 1727.
Where is Handel buried?
Such was the people’s respect – and that of the Royal Family – for the composer, that he was given a state funeral with full honours, being buried alongside Monarchs at Westminster Abbey. His life is commemorated with a sculpture in Poet’s Corner.
Who was the composer of Utrecht Te?
Originally born in Germany in 1685, Baroque composer George Frederic Handel moved to London in 1712 at the age of 27, after falling in love with Britain. He was created the ‘Kappellmeister’ (person in charge of music making) to Hanoverian Prince George in 1710, before he succeeded to the British throne as George I of Great Britain and Ireland (1714-1727). Having worked for members of the aristocracy creating music for them, Handel composed ‘Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate’ for Queen Anne to celebrate the Treat of Utrecht, and subsequently received £200 per year from the Royal purse.
Who is the most famous composer in the history of Great Britain?
Music is hugely important at numerous Royal events, and George Frederic Handel is one of the most famous composers to have ever worked in Great Britain, creating music for Kings and Queens. The German followed George I over to London, and proceeded to create some of the most well-known pieces of music in history…
What is Handel's water music?
Its three suites, mingling French, German and English styles, reveal Handel as a consummate master of the orchestra.
What is George Handel's most popular musical work?
Outside the operatic genre, pieces like the Music for the Royal Fireworks and the Coronation Anthems remain some of his most popular. Here is a roundup of four royal works which best demonstrate his musical style.
What did King George II hope there would be no fiddles?
King George II ‘hoped there would be no fiddles’ in the musical prelude to Green Park fireworks marking the end of war with France. Handel obliged with a wind-and-brass orchestra (including 24 oboes) in a big-band suite of festive dances.
What was the first song to be performed in the HWV 50B?
First performed with the oratorio "Esther" (HWV 50b) Originally concluded with 'Alleluja' chorus (HG 20, p. 161), short instrumental ending probably written by Handel for Walsh publication. First performed with "Athalia" (HWV 52) Performed with revival of "Deborah" (HWV 51).
When was the first movement of the Sinfonia published?
No autograph. First published in 1979 in the Halle Edition (IV/15) and is known only from a copy by Christopher Graupner (1683–1760). Probably completed in Hamburg or Italy.
What is incidental music?
Incidental music. Instrumental music for the revival of Ben Jonson's play The Alchemist. An arrangement, by an anonymous composer, of music from Handel's opera Rodrigo . Three songs and a trio written as part of a private arrangement of John Milton's masque Comus.
Where was the King's Theatre in 1747?
King's Theatre, London. Revived 24 February 1747 and 20 February 1748 at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket, London. Lampugnani arranged music from Handel's "Alessandro" (HWV 21), which was subsequently performed by the "Middlesex" opera company.
Overview
The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to King George I's request for a concert on the River Thames.
Structure
The Water Music opens with a French overture and includes minuets, bourrées, and hornpipes. It is divided into three suites:
1. Overture (Largo – Allegro)
2. Adagio e staccato
3. Allegro – Andante – Allegro da capo
First performance
The first performance of the Water Music is recorded in The Daily Courant, the first British daily newspaper. At about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 July 1717, King George I and several aristocrats boarded a royal barge at Whitehall Palace, for an excursion up the Thames toward Chelsea. The rising tide propelled the barge upstream without rowing. Another barge, provided by the City of London, contained about 50 musicians who performed Handel's music. Many other Londoners a…
Subsequent performances
The Water Music is scored for a relatively large orchestra, making it suitable for outdoor performance. It is also performed in indoor concerts and has been regularly programmed.
In 1920 the Irish musician Hamilton Harty made an arrangement of some of the movements for the modern orchestra. Such re-orchestrations were normal at the time. According to the conductor Sir Thomas Beecham:
Legends
Legend has it that Handel composed Water Music to regain the favour of King George I. Handel had been employed by the future king George while he was still Elector of Hanover, before he succeeded to the British throne. The composer supposedly fell out of favour for moving to London during Queen Anne's reign. This story was first related by Handel's early biographer John Mainwaring; although it may have some foundation in fact, the tale as told by Mainwaring has be…
Popular culture and the media
Many portions of Water Music have become familiar in popular culture.
From 1958 to 1988, this was featured as the theme music for Anglia Television, a regional franchise for the East of England by ITV.
Captain Peter Pulcer of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald from 1966 to 1971 was noted for playing this tune over the ship's public address system as it passed through locks in the Great Lakes and conne…
Recordings
There are many recordings. The Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749), composed 32 years later for another outdoor performance (this time, for George II of Great Britain for the fireworks in London's Green Park, on 27 April 1749), has often been paired with the Water Music on recordings.
Hamilton Harty's re-orchestration was used in some earlier recordings of the Water Music. In 1956 the Australian conductor Charles Mackerras recorded this version, but he later changed his appro…
External links
• Water Music: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project