Midnight on the Water

Mark O'Connor (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 28, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000062E2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,124 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > Country > Instrumental

Editorial Reviews

This CD can be considered somewhat rare now. In perfect shape, likely not played at all.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The solo hero, February 28, 2000

By 

D. Earls (Kingsville, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Midnight on the Water (Audio CD)

Is there anything this man can't do?

After paying tribute to his various sources of inspiration on Heroes - by playing duets with them - O'Connor began a journey into "serious" music. As a composer and performer, Mark O'Connor disappointed me on those early outings, even while I admired and respected his courage to stray from his roots.

It all pays off here. For not only are the master (Paganini) and mentor (Benny Thomasson) here, but all the other heroes as well: Stephane Grappelli, Russ Barenboim, Sam Bush, Vasser Clements, Pinchas Zukerman, to name a few. They've all become Mark O'Connor.

This recording demonstrates maturity in every aspect of O'Connor's craft - as composer, as classical violinist, and as pure fireworks fiddle player. The tone that defines O'Connor (for me) is here, but it shines through the other styles he's absorbed.

The album's title piece is simply the finest O'Connor recorded performance - so far. It pays tribute to Benny Thomasson - a man who felt it was unnecessary to compose new pieces because there were so many undiscovered, unplayed variations on the old ones.

This one's good enough to make you forget to ask "What's next?"

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably One of the Best Violin / Fiddle Recordings Ever, June 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Midnight on the Water (Audio CD)

I've followed Mark O'Connor's career since his 1976 "A Texas Jam Session" LP and have watched him evolve into one of the best violinists / fiddlers in the business. This album, which represents the kinds of live one-man shows Mark has been performing for over a decade, is probably my favorite of everything he has ever recorded, and it has squarely established his reputation as a performer, improviser, and composer. Mark sounds better than ever, and these are some of his finest compositions, improvisations, and interpretations.

O'Connor's performance of his musically inventive caprices is absolutely hair-raising. His improvised tracks range from pyrotechnic displays to forays into the blues to ghostly explorations of violin timbres. Additionally there is some beautiful guitar playing on this album. Star-Spangled Banner is incredible; Amazing Grace is stirring, and the traditional Midnight on the Water paired with Bonaparte's Retreat makes for a satisfying high point of the album.

The album was nicely produced; the recording sounds as though Mark is standing right in the room with you- Sony Classical obviously put a lot of money into producing this one. The liners are extensive, informative, and even artistic (a Vanderbilt University poet has contributed a poem for each improvisation).

If you like any kind of violin music, fiddle music, or just sheerly virtuosic music, this album's for you. Even people who say they don't usually like fiddle music have fallen in love with this album.

Doc Wallace

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Midnight on the Water, January 4, 2000

By 

Cynthia K. Duncan (Concord, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midnight on the Water (Audio CD)

Listening to Mark O'Connor playing Midnight on the Water, I was certain I heard the Beloved. And, when it was over and I wasn't sure, I knew it to be so when Amazing Grace captured me. Mark O'Connor understandably speaks of Nicolo Paganini as his inspiration. I would suggest that Sir Paganini is dancing with the angels at this very moment listening to these *amazing O'Connor caprices.*