Music for the Royal Fireworks for outdoor performance. Together, these works constitute Handel's most famous music for what we would now consider the orchestra. Older recordings tend to use arrangements of Handel's score for the modern orchestra, for example, the arrangements by Hamilton Harty and Leopold Stokowski. More recent recordings tend to use more historically informed performance methods appropriate for baroque music and often use authentic instruments. There are also arrangements for pipe organ, alone or with brass. In 1970, José Feliciano recorded for his "Fireworks" LP part of the work transcribed for classical guitar by himself. This music was performed under the baton of
Music for the Royal Fireworks were set on alight by a stray rocket and other fireworks burned two soldiers and blinded a third. Yet another soldier had blown his hand off during an earlier rehearsal for the 101 cannons which were used during the event. "Music for the Royal Fireworks" opens with a French overture and includes a bourrée and two minuets. The work is in five movements: A siciliana movement was popular in baroque music. It was scored for a large wind band ensemble consisting of 24 oboes, 12 bassoons and a contrabassoon, nine natural trumpets, nine natural horns, three pairs of kettledrums, and