Bach’s “Magnificat” and Handel’s “Water Music” differ in many ways. First, the composition was not done the same way. Magnificat was written for an orchestra and a choir, whereas Water Music is an instrumental composition. Magnificat is more religious, as it was composed to be played in churches and the lyrics are related to biblical verses. On the other hand, Handel composed Water Music after the request of King George I. In fact, King George I wanted a royal ceremony, and organized an opulent event on the River Thames to boost his public image. Indeed, since many people would come to Westminster, the river was the perfect stage for an event to be seen by his people.
Magnificat contains five distinct vocal parts and the lyrics are in Latin.
