Suites Nos. 2 and 3 from Water Music
- Composed by: Handel
- Composed: 1717
- Duration: about 10 minutes
Movements:
- Suite No. 2: Overture —
- Suite No. 2: Alla Hornpipe
- Suite No. 2: Minuet
- Suite No. 2: Lentement
- Suite No. 2: Bourrée
- Suite No. 3: Rigaudons I & II
- Suite No. 3: Menuets I & II
- Suite No. 3: Gigues I & II
On Wednesday Evening at about 8, the King [George I] took Water at Whitehall in an open Barge. … And went up the River towards Chelsea. Many other Barges with Persons of Quality attended, and so great a Number of Boats, that the whole River in a manner was cover’d; a City Company’s Barge was employ’d for the Musick, wherein were 50 Instruments of all sorts, who play’d all the Way from Lambeth … the finest Symphonies, compos’d express for this Occasion, by Mr. Hendel [sic]; which his Majesty liked so well, that he caus’d it to be plaid over three times in going and returning. At Eleven his Majesty went a-shoar at Chelsea where a Supper was prepar’d, and then there was another very fine Consort of Musick, which lasted till 2; after which, his Majesty came again into his Barge, and return’d the same Way, the Musick continuing to play till he landed.
— The Daily Courant on July 19, 1717, reporting on the first performance of Handel’s Water Music in London