- Written in 1911, this set of variations is the first of two pieces that Grainger wrote using Handel’s “The Harmonious Blacksmith” (he used these variations for Handel in the Strand).
- Handel’s “The Harmonious Blacksmith” tune originated as the final movement of Suite No. 5 in E Major (HWV 430) for harpsichord, titled “Air & 5 variations ‘The Harmonious Blacksmith.'”1
- Handel did not label the tune “The Harmonious Blacksmith.” The name was attributed in the 19th century. You can read about theories for the source of the mysterious blacksmith here.
Sources
- “Suite in E major, HWV 430 (Handel, George Frideric),” IMSLP, accessed July 31, 2025, https://imslp.org/wiki/Suite_in_E_major,_HWV_430_(Handel,_George_Frideric).
Cut IDs
27256