A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Water Music, The

by William Smyth Rockstro

WATER MUSIC, THE. A series of Instrumental Movements composed by Handel.

On his return from Italy, in 1710, Handel was presented to the Elector of Hanover by Steffani, through whom he obtained the appointment of Capellmeister at the Electoral Court, with leave of absence for a visit to England. He returned in June, 1711; and, in 1712 obtained permission to make a second visit 'on condition that he engaged to return within a reasonable time.'^[1] This he interpreted so liberally, that he was still busy in London when the Elector arrived there, under the title of King George I., Sept. 20, 1714. It was impossible for him to present himself at Court after such a dereliction of duty; but his friends, Baron Kielmansegge and the Earl of Burlington, procured his restoration to favour. By their advice he wrote a Suite of Movements for two Solo Violins, Flute, Piccolo, two Hautboys, one Bassoon, two Horns, two Trumpets, and Stringed Orchestra; and had them played, under his own direction, on Aug. 22, 1715, upon a boat, in which he followed the Royal Barge on its return from Limehouse to Whitehall. The King was delighted with the music and enquired the name of the composer. Baron Kielmansegge made good use of the opportunity, and so far appeased the King's resentment, that he not only restored Handel to favour, but accorded him a pension of £200 a year, in addition to one of equal amount previously granted to him by Queen Anne. We owe this account to Mainwaring.^[2] Hawkins asserts that the pension was not granted till Handel's appearance at Court with Geminiani. The date rests on the authority of Malcolm,^[3] who also tells us that a similar excursion took place, July 17, 1717, when the Royal Family proceeded by water to 'a supper-party, given by Lady Catharine Jones, at the house of the late Lord Ranelagh, at Chelsea'; and that Handel directed the orchestra with such success that the King commanded the whole of the music to be thrice repeated. As no second collection of 'Water Music' is known to be in existence, we are driven to the supposition that the compositions of 1715 were repeated in 1717. Dr. Chrysander is of opinion that the first performance took place in 1717; but the earlier date has always been accepted, and it is certain that Handel was reconciled to the King long before 1717.

The Water Music consists of twenty-one Movements, disposed in the following order:—

1. Overture (Introduction and Fugue in F).
2. Adagio.
3. A Movement (All^o.?) in Triple Time.
4. Andante.
5. A Movement (All^o.?) in Triple Time.
6. Air, in F.
7. A Movement (All^o.?) in Triple Time.
8. Boure (sic).
9. Hornpipe (in 3-2 Time).
10. A Movement (All^o.?) in D Minor.
11. A Movement (All^o.?) in D Major.
12. A Movement (All^o.?) in 3-2 Time.
13. A Movement in form of a Sarabande.
14. Aria, in G.
15. Lentement.
16. A Movement in form of a Bourrée.
17. Menuet.
18. Menuet.
19. A Movement (All^o.?) in C Minor.
20. A Movement (All^o.?) in G Major.
21. Coro, in D Major.

The original autograph has disappeared; but two Movements, undated, and differing considerably from the printed copies, will be found in Add. MSS. 30,310, Brit. Mus.^[4] The earliest printed edition is that of Walsh, published in 1740.

The Water Music arranged for the piano was once a favourite piece with amateurs, and many still living must recollect hearing its spirited and rhythmical strains in their childhood.

[ W. S. R. ]

1. Mainwaring, 'Memoirs of the Life of the late George Frederic Handel' (London, 1760). pp. 85, 86.
2. Mainwaring, pp. 90-92.
3. Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London, during the Eighteenth Century' (London, 1811).
4. It is quite possible that these may have been remodelled for the performance in 1717.