Soundtracks:
Dead Poets Society
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The Water Music, HWV348-50
Why "Watermusic"
This suite includes 22 movements, with an opening in
the form of an introduction to a concerto grosso. It has solo sections
and many dances. The piece was composed for performance in the royal boat
of the king and his entourage. The king loved the work so much he asked
for it to be played three times in a row (its length is about one hour).
Background
 25
years old, Handel returned from a journey to Italy, to fulfill his new
role as a musical manager in Hanover. But a trip to London and the tremendous
success one of his operas had there, made him fall in love with the city
and to return to it two yeas later. This time he decided to stay, abandoning
his former position in Hanover, to the dismay of the local prince. But
fate played against young Handel, and brought his old employer from Germany,
the prince of Hanover, to the English Throne (he was the grandson of James
the first, King of England), as George the First, successor to the deceased
queen. Handel's rather pictorial biographies tell that the king, sailing
in his boat on the river, listened to the work and fell right in love with
it. When he heard the composer was the rebellious musical director who
had forsaken Hanover with such cheek, he forgave him immediately. Although
this version is not accepted as authentic, and the form of reconciliation
is unknown, it is agreed among historians that this music was written for
a festive cruise held on July 17th, 1717, after the two had made their
peace. It was reported that "the evening was everything that could
be asked for. The number of boats floating in the river was tremendous.
Nearby the royal vessel was the one of musicians. Music was especially
composed for the occasion by Handel, the king's first composer. The king
loved the work so much, he demanded it to be played again before the meal,
and a third time - afterwards..."
About the piece
Suite no. 1 in F major opens with a French overture,
including an impressive introduction and a fast fugue. The instrumental
ensemble is that of a concerto grosso, including an oboe and two solo violins.
The rest of the suite is a series of short, charming movements (different
editions note a slightly different order):
- An adagio and staccato, for an oboe and strings
- An Allegro that includes horns, oboes and a basson;
an andante passage
- An energetic dance in a triple metre
- A concerto grosso form movement, for two oboes and
one or more bassoons.
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Suite no. 2 in D major incorporates a flute, opens
with a vital overture movement, in which the trumpets join the orchestra.
Later come several dances:
- A hornpipe
- A Forlana
- A Bourree
- A minuet
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Suite no. 3 in G major is the trumpet suite, and
it consists of four dances:
- An impressive sarabande for flute and strings
- A Rigaudon for flute and strings
- A Rigaudon for oboe and strings
- Two minuets
- Two gigues
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25
years old, Handel returned from a journey to Italy, to fulfill his new
role as a musical manager in Hanover. But a trip to London and the tremendous
success one of his operas had there, made him fall in love with the city
and to return to it two yeas later. This time he decided to stay, abandoning
his former position in Hanover, to the dismay of the local prince. But
fate played against young Handel, and brought his old employer from Germany,
the prince of Hanover, to the English Throne (he was the grandson of James
the first, King of England), as George the First, successor to the deceased
queen. Handel's rather pictorial biographies tell that the king, sailing
in his boat on the river, listened to the work and fell right in love with
it. When he heard the composer was the rebellious musical director who
had forsaken Hanover with such cheek, he forgave him immediately. Although
this version is not accepted as authentic, and the form of reconciliation
is unknown, it is agreed among historians that this music was written for
a festive cruise held on July 17th, 1717, after the two had made their
peace. It was reported that "the evening was everything that could
be asked for. The number of boats floating in the river was tremendous.
Nearby the royal vessel was the one of musicians. Music was especially
composed for the occasion by Handel, the king's first composer. The king
loved the work so much, he demanded it to be played again before the meal,
and a third time - afterwards..."
