Handel’s Water Music

23 Jul Handel’s Water Music

The months of cold, winter gig training in Bristol harbour always seem worth it once we hit the warmer spring and summer months when there’s always something exciting going on in the docks.  So far this summer we’ve helped to tow The Matthew as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, rowed alongside racing dragon boats and countless party boats and listened to amazing bands in the amphitheater. Nothing has quite compared to last Sunday however, when we were invited to participate in the closing event of the Bristol Harbour Festival. We joined a flotilla of boats accompanying The Bristol Ensemble as they performed a magical 45 minutes of Handel’s Water music. This marked the 300th anniversary of the first performance of this famous piece. In July 1717, the premiere was given in front of the King and his court on board a royal barge on the River Thames, so it was fitting that this recreation began on the water beside one of Bristol’s most exciting historic landmarks: Brunel’s SS Great Britain. We joined other gig boats, paddle boarders and a selection of other small boats as we accompanied the amazingly clear sounds of the orchestra playing out on the passenger boat, The Tower Belle as it slowly processed through the harbour to the Arnolfini. The rainy conditions did little to dampen our spirits and those of the crowds lining the harbour walls and in fact the sun came out as we paused outside the Arnolfini for 10 minutes or so giving us an opportunity to dry out and have our own on board ‘refreshments’ from Avona’s trusty hamper whist we enjoyed the music. It was wonderful to take part in this event and was a reminder of how lucky we are to live and enjoy our sport in such a dynamic city as Bristol!