George Frideric Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks" (1749),
composed at the behest of King George II of Great Britain for the great
fireworks display celebrating the signing of the peace of
Aix-la-Chapelle, which concluded the War of the Austrian Succession on
October 18, 1748.
The terms of the treaty were largely negotiated between the Kingdom of
Great Britain and the Kingdom of France, with the other powers, chief
among them Austria, Prussia and Spain, following their lead. The treaty
affirmed the right of Austrian Empress Maria Theresa to the Habsburg
thrones and recognized the gains of the rising Kingdom of Prussia, which
had, with France and Spain, opposed the Habsburg monarchy and Great
Britain. Although the position of Britain in the struggle was arguably
less than paramount, it was decided that a great public fireworks
celebration should be conducted to commemorate the peace. Handel
composed his "Music for the Royal Fireworks" after being commissioned to
provide "suitable music" for this celebration, to be held on April 27,
1749 in London in Green Park, by St. James's.
The "Music for the Royal Fireworks" was first performed publicly six
days before the great fireworks display, on April 21, 1749, when a full
rehearsal of the music was held at Vauxhall Gardens. However, Handel
himself objected to this performance. It is assumed his objection was
due to logistics, but was more due to his promise to repeat the music
for a charity concert at the Foundling Hospital four weeks after the
main display. The Vauxhall performance was publicly advertised, and
would thus be widely attended, so Handel feared it would lessen interest
in subsequent performances.
At any rate, over twelve thousand people, each paying two shillings and
six pence, rushed en-masse for the Vauxhall rehearsal, causing a
three-hour traffic jam. The Westminster Bridge was closed for subsidence
repairs, so London Bridge was severely overcrowded. Carriages were
forced across with great inconvenience, and there were reports of
scuffles among the footmen. The rehearsal itself was accompanied by an
18 cannon salute, conducted with powder that had been delivered in a
batch of 36 pounds.
Against George II's wishes, Handel insisted upon including strings in
the orchestra for the main celebration. Renowned designer Florentine
Servandoni was summoned to construct what was dubbed an enormous
"machine" as the centerpiece. A great wood and canvas structure
measuring over 400 feet long and 100 feet high, it was constructed in
the manner of "a magnificent Doric Temple" and executed in the
trompe-l'oeil style. It was complete with a triumphal arch topped with a
grand Sun, bearing the latin epigraph "VIVAT REX" in letters of "bright
fire" which were to burn for five hours. The structure featured
impressive side pavilions and elaborate decoration.
On the great day, the King and his entourage toured the "machine,"
presenting purses to its operatives while the entire band played,
commencing at 6 o'clock. The beginning of the fireworks display went
well enough, as "The Gentleman's Magazine" vol. 19 (April, 1749),
describes:
"At half an hour after eight, the works were begun by a single rocket
from before the library, then the cannon within the chevaux de frize
were fired...101 pieces of cannon placed on Constitution-hill, were
discharged; after which a great number of rockets of different sorts,
balloons, &c. were discharged, to surprising perfection."
However, catastrophe ensued when the great "machine" misfired and burst
into intense flame. The left pavilion of the structure was most
affected, and according to the "Description II" of the celebration,
published afterwards, the contrivance "burnt with great Fury." Two of
the arches smoldered to the ground, and the whole building was only
saved when carpenters cast away another two arches and fire engines were
brought in to suppress the flames. The stress was apparently great,
because another misfortune followed when Florentine Servandoni threw a
tantrum and drew his sword on Charles Frederick, Comptroller of the
event. Servandoni was imprisoned but released the next day after
tendering his apologies. In the end, the great sun, "32 feet in
Diameter," the literal high-light of the arrangement, survived the
disaster to fulfill expectations.
Handel's orchestration begins with an Overture suited for the royal
progress across St. James's park, the middle portion of which relaxes
and turns toward B minor. Then, a Bourrée for woodwind and string
follows, moving into a siciliano entitled "La Paix," which splendidly
reflects the eighteenth-century view of peace as a country pastorale.
The piece then moves to the brilliant and varied "Réjouissance," and
finally, is concluded with two Minuets, finishing off the music in an
august atmosphere.
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