Which composer wrote the orchestral suites known as Water Music?

George Frideric Handel wrote the orchestral suites known as Water Music.

The music was first performed on 17 July 1717 during a royal barge trip on the River Thames. King George I requested music for the occasion, and an ensemble performed Handel’s pieces as the barge traveled from Whitehall toward Chelsea and back. Contemporary reports describe the music being heard by crowds along the riverbanks.

Water Music is not one continuous composition but a collection of three suites, commonly identified by their keys: F major, D major, and G major. The pieces use bright orchestral colors, including horns, trumpets, oboes, bassoons, strings, and continuo.

The title can cause confusion because Handel wrote several large instrumental collections for outdoor events. Water Music refers specifically to the Thames performance tradition, whereas his Music for the Royal Fireworks was written for a later fireworks celebration in 1749.