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How did George Frideric Handel combine wind and string instruments in Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks?

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Oil portrait of composer Georg Frideric Handel by Thomas Hudson, showing Handel in a red coat with gold trim, white wig, and holding a sheet of music. — George Frideric Handel George Frideric Handel, oil on canvas by Thomas Hudson, c. 1736; in the Foundling Museum, London.

George Frideric Handel’s approach to combining wind and string instruments in Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks reflected his mastery of orchestral effects and his responsiveness to specific performance requirements.1

Water Music: Composed for a royal barge party on the River Thames, this suite utilized a diverse ensemble of approximately 50 musicians. Handel combined winds—including flutes, recorders, oboes, bassoons, trumpets, and horns—with violins and basses. This blend created a spirited, melodic sound suitable for an outdoor setting.21
Music for the Royal Fireworks: Originally commissioned by King George II for an outdoor festival, the work was initially scored exclusively for a large military band of winds and percussion, including trumpets, horns, oboes, bassoons, and kettledrums, to meet the king's request for a string-free performance. Handel later added stringed instruments for the first indoor performance of the suite.3

Both works are celebrated for their unique combination of grandeur and melodic bravura, showcasing Handel's ability to achieve powerful effects through his skillful orchestration of wind and string bands.1