BaL 25.03.23 - Handel: Water Music

[ardcarp]

Irrelevant to this thread, but movements from The Water Music (either published arrangements or ones own efforts) make extremely useful organ voluntaries, interludes or recital pieces which audiences enjoy. They sound well on organs from village to cathedral.

[smittims]

That's the beauty of pre-classical music. The same piece could be recycled as an aria in an opera, a chorus in an oratorio, or a keyboard piece. You couldn't do that with Ligeti .

[Poppydhb]

I am invested in the Water Music, having led a performance of the F major suite 1 from the keyboard with a wind band.

I’ve stuck with Pinnock, largely, have it on vinyl and CD, plus the organ concertos with Preston. However, I don’t like his concerti grossi at all and have gone back to Marriner for those (and Corelli’s). Many future Titans in those sets, including Pinnock, Hogwood and Andrew Davis. But following the comment about Marriner’s Water Music being not widely known, I’d have to agree, as despite being a radio 3 listener in the days of “ … played by ASMF conducted by Neville Marriner”, I’ve never heard it.

You could hardly say Pinnock’s general style is fashionable, but his Water Music flows on …

[Bryn]

That's the beauty of pre-classical music. The same piece could be recycled as an aria in an opera, a chorus in an oratorio, or a keyboard piece. You couldn't do that with Ligeti .

So what about 2001?

[Master Jacques]

[...] have gone back to Marriner for those (and Corelli’s). Many future Titans in those sets, including Pinnock, Hogwood and Andrew Davis. [...]

You could hardly say Pinnock’s general style is fashionable, but his Water Music flows on …

Titans indeed! and let's not forget Thurston Dart, Marriner's regular harpsichordist, possibly the most titanic of them all, in his pioneering influence. As documents of their time, Marriner's Handel sets remain enjoyable.

Fashion - and those who swallow it slavishly - may choose to speak condescendingly (and inaccurately) of Pinnock's HIPP virtues. Others may feel that although the fast-forward, technicolour Handel of the moment may be the latest thing, it is anything but the last word, having too little sense of the social and musical ethos which produced London's Water Music.

[richardfinegold]

If I could only retain one Handel orchestral collection (perish the thought!) it would certainly be Pinnock's. Nothing hyped, nothing rushed. Everything here happens at a wonderfully natural level, conveying the pleasure which the performers took in their work, with everyone (not least Preston in the Organ concertos) at the height of their powers. A set for the ages.

The Pinnock recordings were purchased more than 20 years ago and I have felt no need to acquire others, although several have landed on my shelves as the result of big box purchases

[richardfinegold]

A TRIUMPHANT RAPPROCHEMENT!

Respect to Pioneer Pinnock, but I always found his Baroque and Classical assumptions a little too straight and rhythmically stolid, lacking the colourful individualistic textures and instrumental agility of later strands of historical performance with Niquet, Savall, Antonini in various repertoire, or my all-time favourite group - the AfAMB!
I love their sound and whole Philosophy of Musical Life, so despite my shades of personal Handelian jade, with shelves full of their CPE, Telemann and the recent 2020/27 Beethoven Symphonies, I had to try this one.

Which is pretty damn wonderful, full of fluidity, festive drive and rhythmic variety, many shades of ensemble and individual colour (exceptional wind solos, shifting string numbers/textures) and constantly varying pace and phrase enlivening the state-of-the art sonic tableau. The AAMB’s tempi never seem excessive to me; I know this group well, and find my ear drawn close by that tempo variabile. Again, in direct comparison with Pinnock, their more responsive micro-dynamics allow the music to breathe and to sing so freely.

I’ll never want to hear the work often, but for one high-resolution Sunday afternoon, the virtuosic warmth, the perfect balance of instrumental blend and separation in the solo/ensemble contrasts, the dancing and singing vitality, brought the piece back to vivid life for me. From brash and brilliant to flowing soft, it’s all so seductively playful.

If a given listener wanted just one Water Music, this would be a good one to have!


Handel : Water Music
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Released on 05/02/2016 by harmonia mundi

QOBUZ 24/96.

*****

Tangential NB/PS - Hervé Niquet is a fascinating artist - check out his startling take on the Brahms German requiem (an iconic work for me). The most operatic and by far the swiftest (51'!) on record. You'll never hear it the same way again....

My high resolution version is Mellon from Toronto, back when Naxos was issuing DVDs and SACD. It’s a detailed recording in either two or multichannel, perhaps just a bit stiff rhythms when compared to Pinnock, (who I think must have been a Baroque Dance Master in a previous life,)and the period Orchestra on the Naxos recording sounds technically adroit (I always wondered if it was the Tafelmusik band under another name). The recording does sound a bit dry, a common feature of Naxos until recently.

[jonfan]

I’ve always enjoyed the cd by Zafiro, coupled with Telemann’s Water Music. The booklet shows a picture of the musicians in concert dress standing by a lake; turn the page and they’re in the same position but in swimwear!

[Barbirollians]

I have been guiltily enjoying the Menuhin Bath Festival performance on EMI Eminence today.

[smittims]

I remember the Menuhin getting a good 'Gramophone ' review on its first release. After Boyd Neel and Thurston Dart it's my choice if I want tot enjoy this work. .