Musica sull’Aqua

Can you recognize the famous title, even in that Italian disguise?  Oh, come on, you can do it!  “Musica” looks like “music.”  Indeed, it’s the Italian word for music. And for sure you know what “aqua” means. It’s a part of so many English words that have something to do with water, right? That’s all you need to know.

It’s Water Music, as in the famous work by George Frideric Handel!  Musica sull’Aqua is the Italian version of the title. The preposition between the two words makes the translation more like: “Music on the Water.”

February 23 marked the 240th anniversary of Handel’s birth (1685-1759). And on February 13, there was a tricentennial celebration for one of Handel’s stage works. That led me to an interesting discovery, which I passed along on Classic Mornings.

Many are aware that Handel was born in the city of Halle, which is in the eastern part of present-day Germany. Beginning in his late teens, he also spent a few years in Hamburg. German audiences know him as Georg Friedrich Händel. I’ve heard some well-intended English speakers, knowing that the composer was born in what is present-day Germany, pronounce “Handel” like a German name. Nice try. They simply aren’t aware of the original spelling of the name and that Handel is the English version of it. 

Here’s something else you should know. Through connections he made in Hamburg, he made his way to Italy, where he lived and worked in Rome, Naples, Florence, and Venice. He began to write sacred and secular vocal works in Italian, including Italian operas. That made me wonder if he acquired an Italian version of his name during those years. He did!  He was known as Giorgio Federico Hendel. I was able to confirm that at the website of Boughton House in England, which has a large holding of music manuscripts of Handel.

All of this reminded me of another famous composer, who was born in Leipzig, and whose father was born the same year as Handel. That composer, Johann Christian Bach, worked in Bologna and Milan before becoming a part of the musical life of London. He was known in Italy as Giovanni Bach and in England as John Bach.

But back to Handel. Working for the future King George of England in Hannover (Hanover), he eventually made his way to England, where he became a British subject. During his years in England, Handel helped cultivate English audiences’ tastes for Italian opera. February 13 was the 300th anniversary of the first performance, in London, of Handel’s Italian language opera Rodelinda. It was a big hit, like Water Music.

I noticed that there’s an annual chamber music festival called Musica sull’Aqua in Como, Italy. Como is located at the southern tip of Lake Como in northern Italy.

That city came to my attention last Thursday with the centennial of the passing of the Italian organist, pianist, and composer (Marco) Enrico Bossi (1861-1925). Born in northern Italy, Bossi was the organist at the Como Cathedral. He lived and worked in Naples, Venice, Bologna, and Rome as well. Over the years, I’ve played a little jig (giga) by the composer on Classic Mornings.

Bossi toured as a concert organist, performing in the U.S. in late 1924 and early 1925. One of his concerts was in Philadelphia, where he was featured on the Wanamaker organ, the world’s largest pipe organ. The story is told that he was ill during the tour. And on his way home, he passed away, on a ship in the Atlantic, on February 20,1925

The jig is one of two pieces written for flute and piano, and published in 1896. According to a note by organist Paul Kasten for Gillian Weir’s recording of the “Giga,” the organ version was made by the composer’s son Renzo.

I always have a bit of fun with the name Bossi whenever I mention it, since it sounds a bit like “bossy.” I feel compelled to spell the name for listeners.

Recently, I was reminded of a wind ensemble of the early 1990s. which named itself with an Italian word that means “breathtaking.”  The group, founded by American clarinetist Charles Neidich, was called Mozzafiato.  The name comes from two Italian words: “mozzare,” which means “to cut off,” and “fiato,” which is the word for “breath.”  According to a 2021 article in L’Italo Americano, “mozzafiato” came into the Italian vocabulary in the 1960s. And they noted that “mozzare” is also a part of the word “mozzarella.”

I think we’ll just keep it at Classic Mornings, unless I hear that we’ve built up a huge following in Italy. In the meantime, be a part of the loyal audience in central Illinois by tuning in Monday through Friday from 9-noon on FM 90.9. or online at will.illinois.edu.