Music for the Royal Fireworks

George Frideric Handel

This edition bears the title Royal Fireworks Music.

General Info

Year: 1749 / 1997
Duration: c. 14:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Mary Erickson
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00 | Score Only - $15.50

Movements

1. Overture - 7:31
2. La Paix (The Peace) - 3:47
3. Bouree - 1:22
4. La Rejoissance (The Joy) - 1:47
5. Menuet - 2:45

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III
Trombone I-II-III
Baritone(Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Snare Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Written for an outdoor performance in 1749, Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks exemplifies early Classical conventions of notation. Unless the edition used includes modern annotations, performers must possess an understanding of Classical performance practices, including the interpretation of dotted rhythms, trills, and articulation styles. Even if the edition is updated, the conductor and performers should invest research into appropriate practices of similar works from this era to promote a thorough understanding of proper musical style.

- Notes from Great Music for Wind Band

A classic example of a Baroque masterpiece! As with The Messiah and The Water Music, this stirring work features familiar melodies, stately rhythms, regal trumpets, and a jubilance that will raise the spirits of everyone in your audience. Scored by Frank Erickson for full concert band in four movements, this work presents a variety of tempos and styles suitable for any concert or festival performance. A superb addition to the repertoire for more advanced bands!

- Notes by publisher

Commercial Discography

Audio CD: University of Illinois Concert Band (Mark Hindsley, conductor)

Media

University of Illinois Concert Band (Mark Hindsley, conductor)
Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Illinois State University Wind Symphony (Glenn Blocke, conductor) - 8 February 2015

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Hail the Conquering Hero (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Marlatt) (1746/2008/2014)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1741/2013)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Thorp) (1741/2003)
Hornpipe from the "Water Music" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1717/2012)
Handel's Largo (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1738/2007)
See the Conquering Hero Comes (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1746/2007)
Water Music Suite (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1717)

All Wind Works

Air and Finale (arr. Balent) (1717/1989)
Amen (arr. Grace)
Antiphonal Alleluia (arr. Liebergen) (1746/1999)
Ariodante Suite (arr. Elledge) (1735/2004)
Arm, Arm, Ye Brave (arr. Barrow) (1746/1980)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Allen) (1748/2007)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Kenny) (1748/1988)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Ricketts) (1748/2004)
Concerto Grosso, Op 6
Concerto Op. 5, No. 6 (arr. Werle)
Conquering Hero Comes, The, from "Judas Maccabeus"
Dead March from "Saul"
Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (arr. Marlatt) (1748/2011)
Finale Grandioso (arr. Philip Gordon)
Fughetta (tr. Conley) (1986)
The Gods Go A-Begging (arr. Beecham; arr. Duthoit; rev. Leidzen) (1929/1947)
Hail the Conquering Hero (arr. Marlatt) (2008)
Hail the Conquering Hero (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Marlatt) (1746/2008/2014)
Hallelujah (arr. Davis and Longfield) (1741/2004)
Hallelujah, Amen (arr. Barnes) (1986)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr Ades) (1741/1958)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Barnes) (1741/1988)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Chiaffarelli) (1741/1941)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Glover) (1741/2016)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Johnson) (1741/1951)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Longfield) (1741/1994)
Hallelujah Chorus (arr. Rondeau) (1741/2010)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1741/2013)
Hallelujah Chorus (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Thorp) (1741/2003)
A Handel Celebration (arr. Erickson) (1985)
Handel's Largo (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1738/2007)
The Harmonious Blacksmith (arr. Osterling) (1720/1992)
The Harmonious Blacksmith (arr. Syler) (1720/2020)
Hear Me, Ye Winds and Waves (arr. Barrow) (1726/1973)
Hornpipe from the "Water Music" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1717/2012)
Hornpipe from "Water Music Suite" (1717)
La Rejouissance (arr. Williams)
La Rejouissance from "Music for the Royal Fireworks" (arr. Seipp)
Larghetto (arr. Bullock) (1738/1994)
Larghetto (arr. Molenaar) (1739-40/1955)
Largo (arr. Barnes) (1738/1988)
Largo (arr. Fagan) (1738/2004)
Largo (arr. Hautvast) (1738/)
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (arr. Tamura) (1711/2014)
Let Me Weep (arr. Haan) (1711/2004)
March and Gavotte (arr. King) (1705/1956/1990)
Menuet Varié (Clarinet Choir) (arr. Hautvast) (/2011)
Menuet Varié (Saxophone Quartet) (arr. Hautvast) (/2011)
Menuetto from Symphony No. 104 "London" (arr. Glover)
Messiah Overture (arr. Johnson) (1741/1966)
The Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Boudreau) (1749/1959)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Erickson) (1749/1997)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (rescored Hindsley) (1749/197-?)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Leenhouts) (1749/2021)
The Music for the Royal Fireworks (arr. Mackerras and Baines) (1749/1960)
Music for the Royal Fireworks (ed. Rodenmacher) (1749/)
Music for Two Wind Bands (arr. Schaefer) (1977)
No Shade So Rare (arr. Forsblad) (1738/1999)
An Occasional Suite (arr. Osterling) (1746/1958)
Overture in D Minor
Passacaglia (arr. Longfield) (c. 1720/2014)
Royal Fireworks Music (arr. Sartorius) (1749/1941)
Royal Fireworks Music (arr. Schaefer) (1749/1982)
Sarabande (arr. Daehn) (1703-1706/1733/2004)
Sarabande (arr. Gingery) (1703-1706/1733/1976)
Sarabande (arr. Van Grevenbroek) (1703-1706/1733/2012)
Sarabande (arr. Hautvast) (1703-1706/1733/2004)
See the Conquering Hero Comes (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1746/2007)
Slow March from "Scipio"
Song of Jupiter (arr. Anderson) (1952)
Suite from "Messiah" (trans. Curnow) (1741/1989)
A Suite of Baroque Dances (arr. Kinyon) (1979/1995)
Thanks Be to Thee
Three Chorales for Band (with Pasquini and Tchaikovsky; arr. Thornton) (1992/2004)
Three Movement from "Water Music" (arr. Wagner) (1715/2014)
Water Music (arr. Longfield) (1717/1997)
Water Music Suite (arr. Erickson) (1717/1985)
Water Music Suite (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1717)
Water Music Suite (arr. Kay) (1717/1950)
Zadok the Priest

Resources

Music for the Royal Fireworks. Wikipedia. Accessed 12 October 2022
Nicholson, Chad. (2009). Great Music for Wind Band: A Guide to the Top 100 Works in Grades IV, V, VI.’’ Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications. pp 50-51.