Description
Bourrée and Hornpipe - Movements 7 and 8 from Water Music Suite No. 1 in F major (HMV 348), composed by George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759). Arranged by Paul Burnell, for instruments in four parts.
Duration if both movements are played three times c.4:30
The arrangement is suitable for multiple quartet combinations with parts available (and potential instrumentations suggested) as follows:
Part 1: C, Eb (flute, oboe, alto recorder, Eb clarinet, violin 1)
Part 2: C, Bb (oboe, tenor recorder, Bb clarinet, violin 2)
Part 3: C - alto & bass clefs, Bb, Eb, F (Bb clarinet, bass recorder, alto saxophone, horn in F, viola)
Part 4: C - bass clef, Bb, F (bassoon, great bass recorder, tenor saxophone, horn in F, 'cello)
Part 4 may be played an octave lower than written.
Any other appropriate instruments, even if not suggested above, may play.
Although the score is presented with a layout appropriate for string quartet this does not indicate a preferred instrumentation.
Both movements in various editions of the score include direction on playing each movement three times and suggestions for instrumentation (strings first time, wind 2nd time, tutti 3rd time). Performers of this arrangement may choose to devise a similar scheme providing there are enough players in the ensemble.
In this arrangement the range of each part has been reduced, some notes from the melody have been moved to Part 2 and additional rests introduced to assist with breathing for wind players. The arrangement should be suitable for wind quartet, string quartet, recorder quartet or multiple other combinations.
Programme note:
The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements composed by George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759). It was first performed on the River Thames in London on 17 July 1717, in response to King George I's request for a concert on the River.
The Water Music has been published as three suites, and the Bourrée and Hornpipe appear as movements 7 and 8 in the Suite No. 1 in F major (HMV 348).
The Bourrée is a dance of French origin and the Hornpipe is any of several dance forms played and danced in Britain and Ireland from the 16th century onwards.