Customer Reviews

Handel: Water Music

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Handel's "Water Music" is, of course, the most popular piece of baroque music around, its wonderful combination of regal-sounding horn pieces and English folk and dance melody being so attractive that even people who are not fans of classical music love it. But the piece has its difficulties, not least because it appears to have originated over a period of some twenty years and was not published in its entirety during Handel's lifetime. I have a number of recordings of the "Water Music" from the early-music, period-instrument school (Pinnock, Hogwood, Collegium aureum, Linde Consort), but it is Nicholas McGegan's recording which seems to be the most satisfying and most complete reconstruction of the work. McGegan plays the three suites, as he sees them, in their entirety, including all repeats. And he plays them in a way that can make one addicted! The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra from San Francisco can, here at any rate, hold its own in competition with the European ensembles, and Harmonia Mundi's sound is crisp, clear and overwhelmingly beautiful, making this "Classical Express" edition a real bargain that, in my humble opinion, no lover of the high baroque or of Handel should miss.

This is the complete version of the WORK. Because many just record this work whitout the two variations and some just record this as two suite or the suites. I have read about this WORK and this verion that recorded here is the only version that Händel, yeah you HEARD me! The ONLY VERSION HÄNDEL composed, and it realy very VERY good. So if ypu want¨complete Händel, look for this version. Three suites and two variations.
All other version is not Hândel version!!!!! Like it or NOT, this is the true and nothing but the TRUE!

The two movements described as Variation 1 and 2 are from the Concerto in F, HWV 331, thought to be the "New Concerto for French Horns" announced for performance at the Drury Lane Theatre on March 20, 1723, five years after WATER MUSIC's debut in 1717. Studies of the paper on which the music is written confirms a date later than 1717. Gardiner has also included both movements in his recording of WATER MUSIC and Raymond Leppard has recorded the Concerto in F in a selection of concerti for Philips (reissued on MHS) - I prefer both of those performances to this. Both movements show Handel's skill at making something new of familiar material.