 Handel scored it for a small orchestra with first and second violins, oboe, and basso continuo.Elgar's arrangement is written for a full symphony orchestra consisting of piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets in B, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in C, 3 trombones, tuba, 3 timpani, percussion (bass drum, cymbals, side drum), string section and organ (ad.lib.