The Musick for the Royal Fireworks, Performed in the Year 1749 - Handel, George Frideric 1685-1759 (London Arnold, 1788)
The Music for the Royal Fireworks is a suite in D major for wind instruments composed in 1749 under contract of George II of Great Britain for the fireworks in London's Green Park on 27 April 1749. The music celebrates the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) in 1748. The musicians performed in a specially constructed building designed by Servandoni, a theatre designer, assisted by four Italians. Andrea Casali and Andrea Soldi designed the decorations. The fireworks themselves were devised and controlled by Gaetano Ruggieri and Giuseppe Sarti, both from Bologna. Charles Frederick was the controller, captain Thomas Desaguliers was the chief fire master. The display was not as successful as the music itself: the weather was rainy causing many misfires and in the middle of the show the right pavilion caught fire. Also, a woman's clothes were set on fire by a stray rocket and other fireworks burned two soldiers and blinded a third. Yet another soldier had his hand blown off during an earlier rehearsal for the 101 cannons which were used during the event.
Bound in with 'The Celebrated Water Musick in Score Composed in the Year 1716'
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Instrumental music; Suite; Dance; London (United Kingdom)