Anecdotes of Great Musicians/Anecdote 87
87.—HÄNDEL'S SUCCESSFUL SCHEME.
Before Händel went to England he held the appointment of Kapellmeister to the elector of Hanover. But he became dissatisfied and quitted the service of his royal patron without leave or ceremony.
Not long after Händel had become well intrenched in the good graces of the English court and aristocracy, the elector of Hanover became King George I, of England, and the late Queen Anne's music master began to fear for his royal pension. Händel dare not appear personally at the court and ask that he be continued in the good graces of his former patron whom he had so discourteously deserted, for fear of the king's displeasure. But he had a friend at court who told him that on a certain day the king was to take a ride on the river Thames; so Händel set about to compose a series of pieces and had them played by a band of musicians on a boat which followed the royal barge.
Pleased at this attention, the king inquired who the author of the plan was; and learning that Händel was the composer of the music, he received the repentant musician at court. Händel was soon appointed the instructor of the princesses in the royal household and was granted a pension of £200 a year.
This was a piece of good fortune quite unexpected by the composer. The possession of the royal favor was of inestimable value to him, for as went the king so went the court and all the aristocracy, and the time came when Händel was in need of the support of all his aristocratic friends.