If you need a specific arrangement to play, several notable versions are available:
These are the most common editions found on public domain repositories like IMSLP. The melody and accompaniment sit on the manuals (Swell and Great), while the independent pedal line provides the harmonic foundation. Look for clean Urtext editions that lack heavy editorial revisions, allowing you to choose your own phrasing. 3. Two-Staff Manuals-Only Arrangements
The "Alla Hornpipe" movement is from Water Music Suite No. 2 in D Major , cataloged as HWV 349 . There is also a separate, short "Hornpipe in D major" for violin and continuo, cataloged as HWV 356 . Make sure you are looking for the correct one (HWV 349 is the famous one).
Handel composed the Water Music suites in 1717 at the request of King George I. The King requested a grand concert on the River Thames, and on July 17, 1717, a barge carrying about 50 musicians played the suites as they floated alongside the royal vessel. The King was so delighted that he commanded the music to be repeated at least three times. handel hornpipe organ pdf
For professional use, commercial PDFs offer superior page turns, fingerings, and pedaling suggestions. Look for digital download versions from publishers like .
The Hornpipe (specifically Movement 11 from the Suite in D major, HWV 349 ) was designed to cut through the open-air environment. Handel achieved this by utilizing:
PDF Download • “Pipe Organ Recessional” (Manuals Only) If you need a specific arrangement to play,
These feature complex pedal parts that mimic the orchestral double-basses, rapid manual changes, and full chordal textures. They require excellent coordination.
: A simplified "Hornpipe Recessional" arrangement by Henri Durieux specifically for organ manuals without pedals.
It is easy to rush the joyous jumps in the melody. Practice with a metronome set to a moderate, stately allegro. A steady, unyielding pulse conveys far more majesty than frantic speed. There is also a separate, short "Hornpipe in
The Water Music is a collection of orchestral movements, or suites, composed for a royal boating party on the River Thames on July 17, 1717. King George I and his guests traveled by royal barge from Whitehall to Chelsea, and a separate barge containing a 50-piece orchestra played Handel's music for the occasion. The story goes that the King loved the music so much he had the orchestra play it three times over the course of the trip. The Water Music remains a staple of the orchestral repertoire and is often performed at royal and celebratory events to this day.
Since the piece was originally orchestral, organists often choose arrangements based on their technical level and instrument size: G.F.Haendel-Water-music-Alla-Hornpipe-organ - IMSLP