Whose composition is Water Music?
Quick Answer
Water Music is a collection of orchestral suites by George Frideric Handel, first performed for King George I on the River Thames in 1717.
The Full Story
On 17 July 1717, King George I and his guests sailed up the Thames from Whitehall towards Chelsea on a royal barge. A second barge carrying about 50 musicians followed, playing Handel's new music. According to a newspaper report of the time, the king liked it so much that he asked for it to be played three times. The music is usually grouped into three suites, in F major, D major and G major, featuring horns and trumpets loud enough to carry across open water. Handel, born in Germany in 1685, settled in London and became a British subject in 1727.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"A royal concert on the river — the story of Handel's Water Music."