Water Music

George Frideric Handel composed the Water Music as three suites, in response to King George I’s request for a concert on the river Thames. It premiered on 17 July 1717. King George, together with several aristocrats. Boarded a royal barge at Whitehall Palace for an excursion up the River Thames towards Chelsea at 8.00pm. The rising tide propelled the barge without much rowing. Another barge transported about 50 musicians who performed Handel’s music. Londoners took to the river in boats of all sizes to hear the music. The King was very pleased with the music making and had the musicians play it three times, including on his return trip from Chelsea to the palace at 11.00pm.

The four albums:

Handel Water & Fire. Dmitry Sinkovsky and B’Rock Orchestra. Release Date: 14 Jul 2023. Label: Pentatone.

Handel Water Music. Laurence Cummings and Festspielorchester Gottingen. Release Date: 21 Apr 2017. Label: Accent.

George Frideric Handel Water Music. Trevor Pinnock and English Concert. Release Date: 26 Jan 2009. Label: Deutsche Grammophon.

​George Frideric Handel Water Music. Georg Kallweit and Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin. Release Date: 5 Feb 2016. Label: Harmonia Mundi.

Reference: Schwarm, B. (2013). Arts & Culture, Water Music, Suite by Handel. Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Water-Music