WFCC

Classical Fact

Before The Elector of Hanover ascended to the throne as King of England, he hired a composer who was casting about looking for work. Apparently, George Frideric Handel was less than diligent in fulfilling his duties as composer to the Elector's royal court. When his benefactor became King George the First under England's Act of Settlement, Handel must have felt a pressing need to make amends. In 1717 Handel presented the King with a peace offering: three suite of instrumental music written to accompany the King's famous barge parties on the River Thames. The King was delighted. He ordered the pieces be repeated two and three more times during each outing, and the good news for the composer was that all past transgressions were forgiven. Today, this music is most commonly known as Handel's Water Music Suites.