Instrumental Music

             Handel was a very versatile composer. His most well known instrumental works, 
     Water Music and Music for Royal Fireworks, were written on behalf of the crown for 
     public consumption.  They exhibited pomp, regal authority and celebration in an 
     emotionally rousing way.  But his other works often evoked very sensitive expressions 
     of emotions.

   Family Tree of British Monarchs  

        The Glorious Revolution  (1688)  -  The English depose Catholic King James II.

        King William III of Orange  (r. 1689 - 1702; James' nephew) and
                 Queen Mary  (d. 1694; James' daughter)

        Queen Anne  (r. 1702 - 1707 of England; 1707 - 1714 of Great Britain; sister of Mary) 

        King George I of Hanover  (r. 1714 - 1727; Grandson of James I; r. 1603-1625)  

        King George II  (r. 1727 - 1760)  Son of George I


Orchestra Works 

      Water Music  (1717)

      Music for Royal Fireworks  (1748)

      'The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' from the oratorio Solomon  (1748)  

      The march from the oratorio Saul  (1738) 


      Concerto Grossi Op. 6 or "Twelve Grand Concertos"  (1749, 1751)


Organ Concertos 

   Op. 4  (6 concertos - 1735)  &  Op. 7  (6 concertos, pub posth, 1761)

        Handel's organ concertos were written to play between acts of his oratorios (good for business).  
    They were the first works written for this combination of instruments.  

                     Organ Concerto No. 13  HWV 295  "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale"  (1739) - 

                                                          premiered at Israel in Egypt)

                            Frieburger Barockorchester, Juan de la Rubia, organ 

                                           I.  Larghetto

                                          II.  Allegro

                                         III.  Organo ad libitum

                                         IV.  Larghetto

                                          V.  Allegro

Keyboard (Harpsichord) Music

         Handel wrote some excellent solo harpsichord works, almost all of it in very short pieces 
    (10 minutes or less).  Two of his most popular works are suites of these short pieces: 
    Suite de pièce Vol. 1 (8 pieces, published 1720) and Suite de pièce Vol. 2 (9 pieces, published 
    1733):

   From Suite de pièce Vol. 1 (published 1720):

         Keyboard Suite No. 5 in E major, HWV 430
             Final movement: "The Harmonious Blacksmith"

                   Gerard Aimontche, piano

            This suite is one of Handel's most popular keyboard works.  It is especially well known for 
        the last movement of the suite; a set of variations called  "The Harmonious Blacksmith."

       Movements:  (first 3 - 7:00)

 
             1.  Preludium

             2.  Allemande

             3.  Courante

             4.  Air with 5 variations  (4:45)