George Frideric Handel's Water Music

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George Frideric Handel's Water Music Not only is George Frideric Handel's Water Music extraordinarily beautiful, it also helped to establish the orchestral suite as a legitimate art form. Written to be performed outside instead of in a theater, it remains one of the most outstanding compositions in Handel's catalogue. Even though it is somewhat overplayed, the Water Music continues to be a very popular work of art. By nature of the venue this great work was to be performed in, Handel had to be very original in orchestration. His strong usage of woodwinds and percussion influenced countless composers such as the wind music of Mozart, Holst, Strauss, Beethoven, Vaughn-Williams, and even Stravinsky. Handel's music proved that he was not only one of the greatest Baroque composers, but he was and is a giant in the history of musical evolution. To fully understand the importance of this work, one must first examine the period and life of the composer. In Europe, the Baroque style dominated from 1600-1750. This particular time focused on the excess of all the arts. Examples of this can be seen in the architecture of this period in countries such as Vienna, France, and England where churches are resplendent and magnificent. Another prime example of the extravagance of this time period is the paintings of William Hogarth, but the most evident excess of style appears in the music of this time frame. During these times, the church had grown extremely powerful and influenced virtually everyone. This was true especially for composers. While secular music had always been written, a composer of this period spent most of his time writing for the church. The most dominant composer of this time is now considered to be J. S. B... ... middle of paper ... ...uss and Igor Stravinsky owe much to the expansion of winds and brass explored by Handel. In closing, one cannot help but examine just how important a work like Handel's Water Music truly is. Bibliography: Works Cited Page 1. Score Handel, George Frideric. Water Music. New York: Pro Art Publications 2. Mann, Alfred Handel: The Orchestral Music Ed. George B. Stauffer. New York: Schirmer Books 3. Gammond, Peter Classical Composers New Jersey: Crescent Books 4. Schonberg, Harold C. The Lives of Great Composers 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Company

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