On Wednesday, July 17, 1717, George I invited numerous distinguished Londoners and nobles to a spectacular event on the Thames. The group boarded open barges in Whitehall and traveled upstream towards Chelsea. The London-based Prussian Friedrich Bonet documented this event in his diary. Around 8 p.m., the king took his place in his barge. Approximately 50 instrumentalists gathered around the royal boat, playing trumpets, horns, oboes, bassoons, various flutes, violins, and basses—but no singers. The compositions were by the famous Handel, a native of Halle and composer-in-residence to His Majesty. The king was so delighted with the performance that he had it repeated three times—twice before and once after dinner—even though each performance lasted a full hour. The evening dawned with perfect weather, and countless boats and barges crowded around to listen to the music. A sumptuous dinner was arranged by Madam de Kilmanseck at Lord Ranelagh's villa, where the King arrived at 1:00 a.m. He departed at 3:00 a.m. and reached St. James's around 4:30 a.m. Baron Kilmanseck contributed, among other things, 150 pounds for the musicians.
The Daily Courant reported similar details of the event on July 19. A barge served "the music with 50 different instruments, playing beautiful symphonies specially composed by Mr. Handel; His Majesty greatly appreciated this and had it performed more than three times upon arrival and departure."
These sources leave little doubt that the party listened to selected pieces that later became known as Handel's Water Music.
The English royal family was going through difficult times in 1717. Tensions between George I and his son intensified, as Bonet recorded in his notes. George I attempted to mask these disagreements with summer events, including the Water Society. This largest documented water-related event took place exactly two days after Parliament's summer recess.
In the following years, Handel's Water Music was performed in various versions in London, although no original manuscript survives. Arnold compiled all the movements for the complete score in 1788.
Handel's instrumentation was multifaceted and richly colored. The composition demonstrated the interplay of strings, winds, and other instruments, creating a truly impressive sonic experience.
In Hamburg, the centenary of the Admiralty was celebrated on April 6, 1723. Telemann composed his Water Music for the occasion, creating a multifaceted picture of the sea and its moods through its diverse movements.
Telemann's suite musically depicts ancient deities and the tides. The composition reflects the complexity and beauty of the sea and concludes with a glimpse into the authentic life of the port city of Hamburg.