What is Water Music (Handel)?
{{italictitle}} [[File:GeorgIvonGroßbritannienGeorgFriedrichHaendelHamman.jpg|thumb|300px|[[George Frideric Handel]] ''(left)'' and King [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] on the [[Thames]], 17 July 1717]] The '''''Water Music''''' is a group of pieces for [[Baroque]] [[orchestra]]. The pieces were composed by [[George Frideric Handel]]. The ''Water Music'' is made up of three [[suite (music)|suites]]. These suites include [[minuet]]s, [[hornpipe]]s, [[bourrée]]s, and other dances. In total, there are three suites (F major, D major, G major), made up of 22 individual pieces. Legend says the three suites were first played on a trip taken by [[George I of Great Britain|King George I]] of Great Britain up the [[Thames]] to [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]] or [[Lambeth]] on 17 July 1717. The King had known Handel for a long time. For some reason though, he was angry with Handel. The ''Water Music'' was Handel's way of appeasing the King. Fifty musicians floated alongside the King's barge playing the suites. The King was so pleased he ordered ''Water Music'' played three times. Another legend has it that he played it for a party King George was having. It says he hired Handel to write a piece of music for him and his royal friends to listen to while sailing in the water; thus the name Water Music. All the instruments in the [[Baroque]] [[orchestra]] were included in the composition, except the [[harpsichord]] and [[timpani]]. It would have been difficult to bring these instruments aboard a barge. The instruments in a complete performance are a [[flute]], two [[recorder (musical instrument)|recorders]], two [[oboe]]s, one [[bassoon]], two [[Horn (musical instrument)|horns]], two [[trumpet]]s, strings, and [[continuo]]. == Other websites == * {{commons-inline|Georg Friedrich Händel}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Water Music (Handel)}} [[Category:Compositions by George Frideric Handel]] [[Category:Suites]] {{music-stub}}