Friday, November 19, 8.00pm
Sunday, November 21, 3.00pm
Symphony Hall

HANDEL Water Music
ROMAN Drottningholmsmusiquen

Grant Llewellyn, conductor

CLICK HERE to listen to Music Director Grant Llewellyn discuss this program.

Handel wrote his famous Water Music to accompany a royal boat-trip down the Thames in 1717. According to a contemporary report, “next to the King’s barge was that of the musicians, about fifty in number, who play on all kinds of instruments… His Majesty approved of it so greatly that he caused it to be repeated three times in all.” This became one of Handel’s most beloved scores: The Celebrated Water Musicke was published in 1733, containing a variety of suites for trumpets, horns, and even a moment for the recorder.

This famous work is paired with a lesser-known work by the “Swedish Handel,” Johan Helmich Roman, who was one of the most important Swedish composers of the 18th century. Considered the “father of Swedish music” his compositions reflect the cosmopolitan influences from his travels throughout Europe. Roman’s Drottningholmsmusiquen was written for the royal country palace and opera house made famous in Bergman’s “Magic Flute” film. Roman wrote this splendid orchestral suite for the grandiose 1744 marriage of the Swedish crown prince to the sister of Frederick the Great.

For further information:

http://gfhandel.org/
An excellent source of Handelian information on the web

http://www.aam.co.uk/
A good essay on the WaterMusic: click on “Features,” then scroll down to “Handel”

http://www.geocities.com/johanhelmichroman/
A brief biography of Roman, with links to more detailed sites