Harmonious Blacksmith
The Harmonious Blacksmith is a popular name for the final movement, Air and Variations, of George Frideric Handel's Suite No. 5 in E major for harpsichord, HWV 430. There have been several explanations as to why this movement was called "The Harmonious Blacksmith". The name was not given by Handel and was not recorded until early in the nineteenth century. It is interesting to note that Pip, the main character and a blacksmith in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations, is fondly given the nickname of Handel by the character Herbert Pocket, who says to Pip: "We are so harmonious ... and you have been a blacksmith".
George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759) was a great German–English Baroque composer. Handel's compositions include 42 operas; 29 oratorios; more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets; numerous arias; chamber music; a large number of ecumenical pieces; odes and serenatas; and 16 organ concerti. His oratorio Messiah, with its "Hallelujah" chorus, is among the most famous works of classical music and is often performed during the Christmas season. Among Handel's best-known instrumental works are the Concerti Grossi Opus 3 and Opus 6; The Cuckoo and the Nightingale; The Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks; and his sixteen keyboard suites, especially The Harmonious Blacksmith.
Handel's music was studied by composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. To Beethoven, George Frideric Handel was "the master of us all... the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb". Beethoven emphasised the simplicity and popular appeal of Handel's music when he said, "Go to him to learn how to achieve great effects, by such simple means".
Tutorials
Sheetmusic on imslp.org
