The Musick for the Royal Fireworks

George Frideric Handel (1695 – 1759)

International Double Reed Society (IDRS) version for double reeds and timpani by Christopher Weait

Dedicated to the memory of IDRS Honorary Member Don Christlieb (1912 – 2001) who began the tradition of performing Handel’s Fireworks at the Society’s annual meetings. Prepared for and performed at the International Double Reed Society’s 36th Annual Double Reed Conference, Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, June 12 – 16, 2007.

Download Parts (zip)

Download Score (zip)

Duration less than 20 minutes

In order to make rehearsing and reading the music easier, all repeats and da capi have been written out. There are 15 parts for each movement, but not all instruments play in every movement. The Heckelphone part is not shown in the full score.

Duration less than 20 minutes

1. Ouverture
2. Bourrée
3. La Paix
4. La Réjouissance
5. Menuet I
6. Menuet II

Instrumentation - double reed ensemble and timpani:

Star (*) indicates original part.

• Oboe 1 *
• Oboe 2 *
• Oboe 3 *
• Oboe d’Amore = Oboe 2 or Oboe 3
• Oboe 4 = Trumpet 1
• Oboe 5 = Trumpet 2
• English horn 1 = Trumpet 3
• English horn 2 = Horn 1
• Heckelphone = Horn 3
• Bassoon 1 *
• Bassoon 2 *
• Bassoon 3 = Horn 2
• Bassoon 4 = Horn 3
• Contrabassoon *
• Timpani *