IDAGIO | Georg Friedrich Händel: Water & Fire - Water Music & the Music for the Royal Fireworks 4015023244122

Featuring

Václav Luks
Collegium 1704
George Frideric Handel

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Performer Biography

Václav Luks, the conductor, founded the Prague Baroque orchestra Collegium 1704 and the vocal ensemble Collegium Vocale 1704 in 2005.

Composition History

The Water Music was commissioned by King George I to distract his subjects and boost his low popularity, with its organization entrusted to Baron Kielmannsegg, a close confidant.

Composition History

Both Handel's Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks were commissioned by the royal court, though many years apart.

Compositional Technique

For the Music for the Royal Fireworks, Handel had a dispute with King George II over instrumentation, as the King insisted on only wind instruments while Handel wanted to include strings.

Composition History

The Music for the Royal Fireworks was commissioned by King George II to celebrate England's victory in the War of the Austrian Succession, which ended with the Treaty of Aachen in October 1748.

Composer Biography

George Frideric Handel dominated London's musical life for almost half a century, introducing new trends with his operas, oratorios, church music, and instrumental compositions.

Historical Context

King George I, for whom the Water Music was composed, was unpopular with his British subjects due to his German court, Lutheran faith, and poor English.