Stavanger Festival: Water Music
From 06 August to 06 August Norway / Stavanger
Händel's Water Music
One of Händel's most popular works, where Händel, with great inventiveness and supreme elegance, incorporates dance music from all over Europe.
Händel's "Water Music" was first performed precisely on the water – up the Thames – when King George I, along with several aristocrats and officials, sailed with the royal barge from Whitehall Palace on an excursion towards Chelsea. Following them was another barge with about 50 musicians, performing Händel's music for the King and his company. Many Londoners went to the river to hear the concert – and the King was so pleased with the music that he ordered it to be repeated at least three times, both on the upstream journey to Chelsea and on the way back until he landed again at Whitehall.
It wasn't just the King who was satisfied; Water Music has always been one of Händel's most popular works. And with good reason. Despite its entertaining character, it is a masterpiece. Typical of a Baroque orchestral suite, "Water Music" consists of a grand overture in the French style, followed by a series of dance movements; these movements are often of French origin, such as the minuet, sarabande, and bourrée. However, with great inventiveness and supreme elegance, Händel also incorporates dances and traditions from other European music traditions and from all social classes. Thus, one can also find Italian airs, English sailor songs, and Scottish and Irish jigs. It is almost as if Händel, through his music, wanted to emphasize London's status as both the largest city in Europe and the capital of a multicultural empire.
It wasn't just the King who was satisfied; Water Music has always been one of Händel's most popular works. And with good reason. Despite its entertaining character, it is a masterpiece. Typical of a Baroque orchestral suite, "Water Music" consists of a grand overture in the French style, followed by a series of dance movements; these movements are often of French origin, such as the minuet, sarabande, and bourrée. However, with great inventiveness and supreme elegance, Händel also incorporates dances and traditions from other European music traditions and from all social classes. Thus, one can also find Italian airs, English sailor songs, and Scottish and Irish jigs. It is almost as if Händel, through his music, wanted to emphasize London's status as both the largest city in Europe and the capital of a multicultural empire.
Today, "Water Music" is compiled and published in three suites, organized primarily for practical reasons. However, the music was most likely performed in a more arbitrary order, as on the trip up and down the Thames. In the same spirit, Concerto Copenhagen usually composes a suite from Händel's Water Music specially adapted for each occasion.
