This study addresses the powerful influence of Handel's orchestral designs on the development of instrumental music. Mann examines Handel's methods in general, and shows the implications of his analysis for performance practice. The concertos and suites of George Frideric Handel hold a dominant position in the history of the orchestra, as well as in the development of Handel's own compositional technique, but are often neglected and overshadowed by such works as Messiah . This book aims to reveal the insight each piece provides into Handel's compositional process.