Handel Water Music
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: George Frideric Handel
Label: Erato
Magazine Review Date: 10/1994
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 56
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 4509-91716-2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Water Music |
George Frideric Handel, Composer
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra George Frideric Handel, Composer Ton Koopman, Conductor |
Author: John Duarte
Several of the numerous recordings of the Water Music couple it with its 'natural' partner, the Music for the Royal Fireworks, whilst some others contain nothing else. However, when one of the latter ilk is of outstanding excellence, quality should prevail over economics in the building of a library. One such case is John Eliot Gardiner's recording with the English Baroque Soloists, which I described in my review as ''a hard act to follow'', and another is this new one by Amsterdam Baroque with Ton Koopman. Both are period-instrument performances that place the three Suites in logical rather than printed order, induct (though at different junctures) the two movements (Allegro and Hornpipe) from the Suite in F of c. 1715, and are liberally and attractively embellished in appropriate places.
In both accounts the playing is superb. Where they differ importantly is in weight: whilst it was reported that about 50 musicians were employed in Handel's original performance, Gardiner settles for 42 and Koopman for a mere 20 (with no timpani), ''for acoustic reasons''. Koopman's is thus a chamber performance, aimed at presenting the music with clarity, and with an acoustic that makes no effort to re-create the spaciousness of the 'great outdoors' in the F and D major Suites. The two versions are complementary rather than competitive, both worthy of a place on the shelves of the discerning Handel Kenner. If, however, you insist on having a coupling with the Fireworks Music I recommend the recording under Jordi Savall; if you aren't devoted to period instruments, then those by the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra with Preston or the Consort of London with Haydon Clark will serve you well enough.'
In both accounts the playing is superb. Where they differ importantly is in weight: whilst it was reported that about 50 musicians were employed in Handel's original performance, Gardiner settles for 42 and Koopman for a mere 20 (with no timpani), ''for acoustic reasons''. Koopman's is thus a chamber performance, aimed at presenting the music with clarity, and with an acoustic that makes no effort to re-create the spaciousness of the 'great outdoors' in the F and D major Suites. The two versions are complementary rather than competitive, both worthy of a place on the shelves of the discerning Handel Kenner. If, however, you insist on having a coupling with the Fireworks Music I recommend the recording under Jordi Savall; if you aren't devoted to period instruments, then those by the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra with Preston or the Consort of London with Haydon Clark will serve you well enough.'
Handel Water Music
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