Handel with no strings attached

Composers Datebook

Synopsis

Few of us today really know — or care — very much about the War of Austrian Succession, a conflict that troubled Europe in the 18th century. For music lovers, it’s enough to know that to celebrate the end of that war, George Frederic Handel was commissioned to compose music for a fireworks concert in London’s Green Park, an event that took place on today’s date in the year 1749.

Back then there were no such things as microphones and loudspeakers, so Handel’s score called for a huge military band of 24 oboes, nine horns, nine trumpets, three sets of timpani, 12 bassoons, two contrabassoons and strings. When King George II was told about it, he balked a little at the expense.

“Well, at least I hope there won’t be any fiddles,” he commented, and so Handel was informed the strings were definitely off.

A public rehearsal was held at the Vauxhall Gardens and a London newspaper reported that 100 musicians performed for an audience of more than 12,000, causing a three-hour traffic jam of carriages and pedestrians on London Bridge. The official event with fireworks went off with a bang — as well as a few fires breaking out.

Music Played in Today's Program

George Frederic Handel (1685-1759): Music for the Royal Fireworks; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor; Argo 414596