Georg Friedrich Handel Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Water Music: HornpipeGeorg Friedrich Händel8rank/position

Handel Water Music Hornpipe

There is an orchestral suite by George Frideric Handel written to adorn a royal river outing, and one of its pieces combines a refreshing coolness with festive brilliance that suits summer perfectly.

At its premiere on the Thames in July 1717, it captivated audiences so much that King George I reportedly ordered multiple encores.

With trumpets and horns in lively motion, it lifts listeners into a bright, celebratory mood.

It’s also known for coloring a scene in the film Dead Poets Society.

For those seeking a brisk, invigorating moment on muggy days, or anyone who wants to enjoy the majestic yet light charm of Baroque music with ease, this piece is just the thing.

The Sprightly BlacksmithGeorg Friedrich Händel9rank/position

The Harmonious Blacksmith, composed by Handel – Full HD high-quality audio (harpsichord performance)

The Harmonious Blacksmith is the concluding piece of a harpsichord suite published by George Frideric Handel in 1720.

The work consists of a recurring theme and five refined variations, featuring technical elements throughout such as trills, arpeggios, and triplets.

Today, it is widely known as a staple piece for piano learners, and listening to it on instruments actually used in the Baroque era—like the harpsichord—can leave quite a different impression.

Water MusicGeorg Friedrich Händel10rank/position

[Long Version] Handel - Water Music

It’s a Handel piece whose generous, flowing music lets you picture a broad river, gently soaking into the heart and bringing comfort.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this the essence of classical music.

The slightly Baroque feel is truly lovely.

“Ombra mai fu” from the opera “Xerxes”Georg Friedrich Händel11rank/position

Ombra Mai Fu Cécilia Bartoli

An aria from Act I of Handel’s opera Xerxes.

King Xerxes I of Persia, resting comfortably in the shade of a tree, sings of his love for the plane tree’s shade, declaring that never before has there been such dear, gentle, and pleasant shade.

It’s a piece that evokes dappled sunlight, a gentle breeze, and the enveloping comfort of a soothing canopy of leaves.

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Hallelujah from the oratorio MessiahGeorg Friedrich Händel12rank/position

Händel Messiah – Hallelujah Chorus

Handel’s Messiah is a masterpiece of oratorio that stands alongside Bach’s St.

Matthew Passion, and it is famous in European concerts for the audience giving a standing ovation during the “Hallelujah Chorus.” This custom stems from the British tradition of standing when songs praising God are performed.

Come Again to Please Me (from the opera “Alcina”)Georg Friedrich Händel13rank/position

G. F. Händel: Tornami a vagheggiar

The dazzlingly beautiful “Tornami a vagheggiar,” which sings of the feeling of love, is a famous da capo aria from one of the masterworks of opera by the great Baroque composer George Frideric Handel, Alcina.

From the opera ‘The World of the Moon’: ‘People have discretion.’Georg Friedrich Händel14rank/position

Patricia Petibon – Ragion nell’alma siede – Haydn (Official Video)

Patricia Petibon, a French coloratura soprano, is an artist of remarkable versatility in both acting and singing, whose talent was discovered by William Christie, founder of the period-instrument ensemble Les Arts Florissants.

The famous aria “Ragion nell’alma siede” from Haydn’s opera Il mondo della luna is a piece that showcases Petibon’s allure as a specialist in Baroque opera.