Original: It was scored for a large wind band ensemble consisting of 24 oboes, 12 bassoons (and a contrabassoon), nine trumpets, nine French horns, three pairs of kettledrums, and an unspecified number of side drums.
Simplified: Handel wrote the music for a large orchestra with 24 oboes, 12 bassoons (including a contrabassoon), nine trumpets, nine horns, three pairs of kettledrums, and a number of side drums.