Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks in Full Score (Dover Music Scores)

About this book

Because Handel enjoyed such success with operas and oratorios he rarely composed strictly orchestral works; in fact if it had not been for the personal requests of George I and George II Handel would never have written the two beloved masterpieces reproduced in this volume. Early in his reign George I induced Handel to compose the Water Music to accompany royal boating parties; for George II many years later Handel composed the accompaniment to the Royal Fireworks celebrating the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. Today these two royally decreed masterworks are among the most popular Baroque instrumental works performed and recorded. Groves Dictionary calls the Water Music "splendidly inventive and sonorous" and concludes that "the Music for the Royal Fireworks is still grander. Now in one remarkably affordable volume here are the full scores reprinted without alteration from the authoritative Deutsche Hndelgesellschaft edition of 1886. Musicians students and musicologists can finally study and enjoy both scores with Handels final arrangements and orchestration untouched by modern rescoring or editing of any kind: Water Music incorporates at least two and probably three suites from around 1717 composed in different keys (F D and G) for different instruments a large woodwind (including double bassoon) three timpani and a powerful string section. Any musician or fan of the Baroque or of Handel in particular will welcome this exciting inexpensive playing edition of two of the best-loved works of the period today more popular than ever. Large readable noteheads ample margins opaque paper and permanent binding make this a fundamental addition to every musicians library and absolutely essential for the Handel devotee.