Water Music
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.
Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate
Handel's composition was written to celebrate the Peace of Utrecht in 1713. It has been described as his first commission from the British royal family, although the "Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne" appears to be earlier. It was his first major sacred work to English texts. Handel followed the models of Henry Purcell's 1694 "Te Deum and Jubilate" with strings and trumpets, which was regularly performed for official functions in St Paul's even after the composer's death, and a 1709 setting by William Croft. As in these models, Handel composed a combination of two liturgical texts, the Ambrosian Hymn "Te Deum", "We praise thee, O God", and a setting of Psalm 100, "O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands", which is a regular canticle of the Anglican Morning Prayer. He followed the version of the Book of Common Prayer. Handel's work was first performed in a public dress rehearsal on 5 March 1713 in St Paul's Cathedral. The official premiere took place after the tedious peace negotiations had finished, in a solemn thanksgiving service on 7 July 1713.