Reaction to Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, Overture.

[@AngelaSealana]

This piece is a classical treasure for a reason! I wish more reactors would include classical pieces in their reportoir. Thanks for doing this. One thing I like about Handel is his ability to weave ascending and descending lines. He does this again famously in his other infamous work, "Messiah".

[@katakhresis2796]

The tempi markings are adagio-allegro-lentement-allegro. It was originally commissioned by George II to celebrate end of hostilities with France with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The king was requested no fiddles, as he was wanted it sound martial and triumphant. Handel seems to have reluctantly complied, but later rescored it with strings, in the version that we know today. The new score was donated to the Foundling Hospital, a charity supported by various musicians and painters to raise money for orphans and abandoned children. The rehearsals for the Royal Fireworks is said to have caused the first modern traffic jam, as coaches were backed up on London Bridge for 3 hours, because thousands turned up. The actual premiere was ruined by bad weather. If that was not bad enough one of the structures caught fire. This piece is usually paired with Water Music, another propaganda piece written several decades earlier, on that occasion for for George I for a musical party on the Thames river to boost the King's popularity, as he was being upstaged by the Prince of Wales ( the same George II). He needed this publicity boost because he was German and could hardly speak the language of his English subjects. The Water Music is usually presented as collection of three suites, or collections of popular dances, that include an overture; the Fireworks Music is a single suite. Although this music seems to represent Englishness, it has it's roots in Italy, where Handel underwent an important apprenticeship that launched him as an Opera composer, thus the grand dramatic gestures which he applied to other genres, such as ceremonial music, coronation anthems and oratorios like 'Messiah'.

[@JaeMonroeVocalist]

Amazing analysis of this wonderful Baroque Majestic music. I have sung "The Messiah" when I was in University and was literally blown away when I finally heard those trumpets sound out in front of me on stage! I love Handel's use of the Brass instruments in the antiphonal way so that one feels as if it is in stereo. I didn't know about the Alliance with France but I knew it had to have a French influence due to the repetitions of the dotted note rhythms which were widely used in French Opera and instrumental dance music. I also pictured that the piece would have been performed on the Thames River with King George II seated with his Royal party watching barges with the fireworks passing each other in opposite directions so as to replicate a grand water battle. Handel's use of counterpoint has always impressed me with just how melodic every separate musical line remains while still in perfect harmony. Handel composed at least 50 Italian Operas before changing gears by composing Oratorios in English for the remainder of his service to the King. I'm always so happy when someone is able to experience music such as this and enjoy it fully. Perhaps a reaction to some earlier brass music such as the composer Gabrielli who lived before Handel and composed some incredible antiphonal works to be performed in Cathedrals.

[@qariss]

A relentless assault of joy lmao perfect!

[@franr.3691]

Excellent analysis. I really like this Handel's Suite. I think it is way ahead of its time. I like its galloping rhythms, its dynamics, its ascending and descending scales and its grandeur .... characteristics that influenced later classical and romantic composers

[@victormanteca7395]

This initial movement is a "French Overture". This is, a kind of orchestral piece invented by French composers such as Lully or DeLalande in the 17th Century as introduction to operas. It usually comprises two sections: an initial slow, solemn and ceremonial introduction, followed by a fast section, also subdivided in several parts, which is festive and climactic and ends with a brief slow coda that reminds of the first section.

[@gabrielbusu45]

Amazing and beautiful surprise, thank you!

[@pcgamingftw5694]

Was fun to see you analyze it. I've actually never fully listened to it myself, even though I'm really into classical music. I know it doesn't get a high number of views, but I hope you'll keep doing more pieces like this and I'd love to see you react to a live performance. Always much more fun to see the musicians do their thing! Greetings from Germany^^

[@robertcreighton4635]

Fantastic thanks for posting

[@sophistik000]

You explained that you don't know much about classical music and yet your way of reacting is so sensitive to the "new" that it really excites whoever is seeing you. Please react to more classical music because it is a feast for the eyes.

[@uncle_thulhu]

You never cease to amaze me. I don't think I've seen a single reaction to classical music. Opera, sure, but not just music alone. . Well, at least you know you're almost certainly not going to get blocked... . This was actually written for a specific fireworks display commissioned by the king (which king, I don't remember) at the time (1600s). . Actually, this movement is only meant to essentially announce it and whet one's appetite for the show. That's what an overture is. The intro music. Usually, during an overture, nothing else is happening. People find this odd, because of how dramatic overtures tend to be. Look at Ride of the Valkyries. It totally sounds like the soundtrack to some action blockbuster, but it's just the intro to the Ring Cycle, so literally nothing is happening on stage while it's played. Not sure about the 1812 Overture, especially as it sound more like the 1812 Climax. . Oh, and unfortunately, when this was originally written and performed, fireworks only came in one colour.

[@thomashilberg8619]

The King was George II. It was composed in 1749.

[@uncle_thulhu]

@@thomashilberg8619 thanks. Saw it on Worst Jobs with Tony Robinson, but I couldn't remember.

[@solovief]

I thought you were gracious and in your element. You may feel displaced due to the jazz/classical divide, but once you know the elements of music you can travel across boundaries. Look at Joni Mitchell. She has reinvented her sound and style over and over, always perfecting her game while taking whole new worlds of information and attitude into her toolbox. I think you did a great and honest job reacting to one of my favorite pieces. Bring it!

[@SFWUxSavage]

You be sleeping on that voiceplay Tennessee whiskey fam you will love it reaction soon please

[@wasupdoc1738]

Did you mean diminuendo by any chance

[@ZHULK]

You should react to VoicePlay's new song called Superstition 😁