Ravinia 2023 Issue 6

MARTIN THEATRE 7:30 PM TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE DAME JANE GLOVER, conductor JAMES EHNES, violin HANDEL Water Music Suite No. 2 Allegro Alla Hornpipe Minuet Lentement Bourrée MOZART Violin Concerto No. 3 Allegro Adagio Rondo: Allegro James Ehnes –Intermission– BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 [Allegro] Adagio Allegro Menuetto—Trio I—Polacca—Trio II HAYDN Symphony No. 102 Largo—Allegro vivace Adagio Menuetto: Allegro Finale: Presto GEORGE FRIEDERIC HANDEL (1685–1759) Water Music Suite No. 2 in D major, HWV 349 Scored for two oboes, bassoon, two horns, two trumpets, strings, and basso continuo The Elector of Hannover, Georg Ludwig, ar- rived in London in September 1714 to ascend the throne of England, left vacant on the death of Queen Anne. Handel had been a nominal member of the elector’s court, al- though the celebrated musician spent more time in England than in Hannover. Through- out his reign, King George I preferred the fa- miliar German landscape—his visits to the island were infrequent and often amounted to vacation getaways with his numerous mis- tresses. When in England, he demonstrated a marked inclination for “barge parties,” festive evenings on theThames for his friends hosted on a flotilla of flat-bottomed boats. Numer- ous barge parties were held during the first few years of his reign. A myth surrounds Handel’s musical contri- butions to one of these parties: As the sto- ry goes, Handel’s numerous and extended absences from the court in Hannover had alienated him from George. The Water Music , allegedly written to appease his patron, was performed by a large group of musicians trav- eling on a boat behind the king’s. There was probably no animosity between the king and Handel, since George had allowed each leave of absence. In all likelihood, the king invit- ed Handel to compose music for a party on July 17, 1717, three years after his coronation. The first newspaper report of the event ap- peared in the Daily Courant on July 19: “On Wednesday Evening, at about 8, the King took Water at Whitehall in an open Barge, wherein were also the Dutchess of Bolton, the Dutchess of Newcastle, the Countess of Godolphin, Madam Kilmanseck, and the Earl of Orkney. And went up the River towards Chelsea. Many other Barges with Persons of George I of Great Britain and Ireland, from the studio of Godfrey Kneller (1714) Quality attended, and so great a Number of Boats was employ’d for the Musick, wherein were 50 Instruments of all sorts, who play’d all the Way from Lambeth (while the Barges drove with the Tide without Rowing, as far as Chelsea) the finest Symphonies, compos’d expressly for this Occasion, by Mr. Hendel; 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-shore 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 on his Barge, and return’d the same Way, the Musick continuing to play till he landed.” Handel’s music comprises three suites, or sets of movements, for different instrumental combinations: Suite No. 1 in F major for two oboes, bassoon, two horns, strings and basso continuo (an instrumental group with key- board and one or more bass instruments); Suite No. 2 in Dmajor for the above ensemble plus two trumpets; and Suite No. 3 in G major for recorder, flute, strings and basso continuo . The brilliant use of woodwinds and brass makes Suites Nos. 1 and 2 suitable for “out-of- doors” performance. Suite No. 3, with its soft- er instrumentation, probably accompanied the “choice supper in the late Lord Ranelagh’s villa at Chelsea” until early in the morning. Many of these movements are French dance types popular throughout Europe: bourrée , menuet , passepied , rigaudon , and gigue . Oth- ers are merely given tempo markings. Selec- tions are frequently lively and always color- fully scored, adding greatly to the merriment and conviviality. George’s barge party was the ultimate “river cruise” with eating, live enter- tainment, and social discourse. The king was so pleased with the new instrumental suites that he had the complete music repeated twice. Handel’s Water Music , one of the most familiar instrumental works of the Baroque, engages the modern-day listener with the same captivating force. George Frideric Handel by Balthasar Denner (ca.1726–28) RAVINIA.ORG • RAVINIA MAGAZINE 33