“We’re going to have a ball this week,” Bill says, “listening to some glorious music and, in most cases, giving credit where credit is due, to the people that commissioned these pieces.” Bill ushers in George II in England, whose favorite composer was Handel— both men were German born, and it’s George II who started the tradition that continues today of standing during the “Hallelujah” Chorus of Messiah. Bill also connects Haydn, Scarlatti, and Walton to their savvy patrons, confirming that if you want to command the finest musicians, it’s good to be the king.
Fit for a King
Playlist
Episode 1
Handel, Frederic: Water Music: “Hornpipe”
Concentus Musicus Wien/ Harnoncourt
Water Music / Organ Concertos
Teldec 93668
3:43
Handel, Frederic: “Zadok the Priest”
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/ Marriner
Coronation Anthems
Phil 412733
5:27
Handel, Frederic: “Music for the Royal Fireworks” (excerpts)
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Water Music; Music for The Royal Fireworks
DG 435390
13:14
Haydn, Joseph: Trio for Baryton, Viola and Cello in D Major “Minuet”
Lukacs, violin; Kakuk, baritone; Parkanyi, violin cello
Baryton Trios / Kakuk, Lukacs, Parkanyi
Hungaroton 31174
2:31
Haydn, Joseph: Symphony No. 6 in D Major, H 1 No. 6, “Le Matin”
English Concert/ Pinnock
Symphonies “Le Matin, Le Midi, Le Soir” / Pinnock
DG Archiv 423098
20:42
Episode 2
Malvezzi, Christofano: “Dal vago e bel sereno”
Huelgas Ensemle/ van Nevel
La Pellegrina /Paul Van Nevel, Huelgas Ensemble
Sony 63362
5:44
Lully, jean-Baptiste: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, LWV 43 Suite
Les Concert des Nations/ Savall
L’Orchestre Du Roi Soleil (Symphonies, Ouvertures & Airs À Jouer)
Alia Vox 9807
17:11
Strauss, Richard: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Op. 60
English Chamber Orchestra/ Tate
Suite Der Burger Als Edelmann Op.60. Metamorphosen
EMI 47992
5:38
Strauss, Richard: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Op. 60
English Chamber Orchestra/ Tate
Suite Der Burger Als Edelmann Op.60. Metamorphosen
EMI 47992
:26
Strauss, Richard: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Op. 60
English Chamber Orchestra/ Tate
Suite Der Burger Als Edelmann Op.60. Metamorphosen
EMI 47992
19:13
Brooks, Mel: “It’s Good to be the King”
Heaven and Earth
I Really Love You / It’s Good to be the King
Unidisc SP5-1772
:15
Episode 3
Beethoven, Ludwig: Trio for Piano and Strings No. 7 in B flat major, Op. 97, Archduke
Zukerman, violin; Du Pre, violin cello; Barenboim, piano
Piano Trios Barenboim, Zukerman, Du Pré
EMI 63124
10:12
Beethoven, Ludwig: Quartet for Strings, Op. 59 No. 2, Razumovsky, III.
Emerson String Quartet
Complete Beethoven Edition, Volumes 1 to 20
DG 47075
7:26
Haydn, Joseph: Quartet for Strings in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Kaiser, II.
Amadeus Quartet
Kaiserquartett (Emperor) – Jagd quartett (Hunting)
DG 410866
7:49
Beethoven, Ludwig: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in E-Flat Major, Op. 73, Emperor, III.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/ Solti; Ashkenazy, piano
The Piano Concertos
Lon 443723
11:06
Strauss II, Johann: Kaiser-Walzer, Op. 437
Vienna Philharmonic/ Maazel
New Year’s Concert 1996/Maazel, Wiener Philharmoniker
RCA 68421
11:18
Haydn, Joseph: Quartet for Strings in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Kaiser, I. (excerpt)
Amadeus Quartet
Kaiserquartett (Emperor) -Jagdquartett (Hunting)
DG 410866
2:00
Episode 4
Roman, Johan Helmich: Drottningholm Music (excerpts)
Giangiulio, trumpet; Riedo, organ
Music For Ceremony and Celebration
Crystal 234
9:32
Bach, JS: The Musical Offering, BWV 1079 “Ricercar 2 a 6”
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/ Marriner
Das Musikalische Opfer / The Musical Offering BWV 1079
Philips 412800
7:24
Boccherini, Luigi: Quintet for Guitar and Strings No. 4 in D Major, G 448, “Fandango,” I. III.
Academy of St. Martin- in-the- Fields-Chamber Ensemble; Romero, guitar
The Guitar Quintets
Philips 438769
11:57
Mendelssohn, Felix: Symphony No. 3, Scottish, I. II.
Cleveland Orchestra/ Dohnányi
Classics – Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3
Telarc 80184
16:50
Scarlatti, Domenico: Keyboard Sonata in E Major, K531/L430
Horowitz, piano
Vladimir Horowitz, Scarlatti
CBS 42410
3:14
Episode 5
Grieg, Edvard: Lyric Pieces, Book 8, Op. 65, No. 6: “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen”
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Grieg: Lyric Pieces – Leif Ove Andsnes
EMI 57296
6:15
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 5 in E flat Major, Op. 82, I. II.
Oslo Phil/ Jansons
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 5 – Jansons, Oslo Philharmonic
EMI 55533
12:16
Bridge, Frank: “Coronation March” (1911)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales/ Hickox
Orchestral Works Vol. 3
Chan 10112
6:40
Elgar, Edward: Symphony No. 2 in E flat Major, Op. 63, II. Larghetto
London Philharmonic/ Solti
Elgar: Symphonies 1 & 2, In London Town, in the South
Lon 443856
15:32
Walton, William: “Crown Imperial”
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic/ Groves
The Best of British
EMI 62528
6:30
Handel, George Frederic: Music for the Royal Fireworks (excerpts)
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Handel: Water Music; Music for The Royal Fireworks
DG 435390
4:01