197: Water Music
Next to the “Hallelujah” of the Messiah (the last movement of Part II), many of Handel’s most famous works come from a set of suites collectively called “Water Music.” Handel, though born in Halle in what is now Germany, spent most of his life—certainly most of his career—in what’s now the UK, and in fact became a British subject by naturalization. He frequently wrote works commissioned by or for the monarchy, and “Water Music” was no exception. George I commissioned Handel to write Water Music for a concert that took place today in 1717. Multiple barges went down the Thames carried only by its current, carrying all the musicians for the open-air concert the King had requested. The 3 suites were an immediate hit. Here are some of the movements, one from each of the suites: 1. The Bourree from the F major suite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKy0LJ6qHto&list=RDbKy0LJ6qHto&start_radio=1 2. The famous Hornpipe from the D major suite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...