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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding recording - Highly recommended,
By
This review is from: Handel: Water Music Suites 1, 2, 3, Music for the Royal Fireworks (Audio CD)
I first came into contact with Handel's Water Music through an Open University programme in 1980 on the City of Bath introduced by Colin Cunningham. The programme used authentically phrased versions of Handel's masterpiece and my goal from then on was to find a recording on par. It has taken many years of searching, but I am pleased to say, this recording of the English Baroque Soloists conduced by John Eliot Gardiner is it!
Each suite in turn is treated fairly and without compromise. Often the hornpipe and air suites are handled with sledgehammers, not so here. They are beautifully woven like a tapestry and evoke visions of the Royal Barge and Musicians afloat performing down the Thames in London, leaving the listener in no doubt as to Handel's intentions. This recording, which also includes the Music for the Royal Fireworks, is highly recommended.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews) 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ultimate "Water Music" On Record,
By Rudy Avila "Saint Seiya" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Handel: Water Music Suites 1, 2, 3, Music for the Royal Fireworks (Audio CD)
When it comes to George Frederic Handel's music, both orchestral and operatic, the words that best describe the tone and overall impression of the music are elegant, regal, grand and sublimely beautiful. Handel's music was very popular, sometimes I feel much more so than the rigid music of Bach, which was far more complex and less "relaxing" than Handel's. The leisurely, beautiful and grand style of his Water Music is in fact what he is most known for. This is music fit for European royalty as it was indeed first performed for the King of England's boat ride on the Thames river. This is now reduced to elevator music or Muzak in five-star hotels and restaurants, or even cellular phone ringtones. The Water Music on this recording sounds absolutely brilliant, with no sterile moments or broad, boring tempi. The perfection of this particular recording is to be commended. Sir John Elliot Gardner and his English Baroque Soloists know the music like the palm of their hands. Maybe it's because he feels the music is, in part, English in spirit, since Handel spent most of his career in London, though he was born in Germany. Gardener is actually slower in his tempi when compared to other works he conducts, particularly in operas. His specialty is Baroque and it shows in this recording.
The Suites are all played with finesse, with chamber-like elegance and with no riotous frenzy or fast pacing. It is a slow ride down the Thames. We are seduced by the sounds of flutes, violin strings, and trumpet. The famous Trumpet Suite has never sounded better than in this recording. The Minuets and Bourres are all masterfully performed and the English Baroque Soloists let us hear every detail of the music. There are still other fine versions out there, but few outshine this one. A second choice would be Sir John Neville Marriner conducting the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields. Or perhaps an Orchestra that specializes in period instruments and in the Baroque repertoire. If you love more of this type of music by Handel, I also recommend his 12 Concerto Grossi. Bach's Brandenburg Concerti certainly exceed the Water Music in beauty and in musical mastership but the Water Music continues to be a popular work featured in Classical Music radio, television, movies and even movie theater bathrooms! 11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A splended HIP recording.,
By Joshua Kaufman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Handel: Water Music Suites 1, 2, 3, Music for the Royal Fireworks (Audio CD)
These two recordings seem to be both lauded and hated, but I for one love them. The balance of the ensemble is great, bringing out all the wonderful colors that Handel could do better than any other Baroque composer (discounting Monteverdi 125 years beforehand). While simple at times, Water Music is a great collection of wonderful, tuneful music. Gardiner often takes this music at what one might call breakneck speed, but it works. Addtionally, he adds a couple "varients" as a bonus, which are really just a couple of the movements played in a different key -- nice to have. The Royal Fireworks music was in fact originally without strings -- here it's played in the string version. Here too the tempos are on the fast side, especially in the final movement. And once again, it works great. One thing to note about this recording is that, as with many HIP Baroque performances, the instruments are tuned lower. So if one compares it with a modern instument recording, it will sound lower. For this music especially this seems to work well -- the higher tone seems brighter (it's a physics thing that I can't get into here) and this music needs the more open tone that the larger (relative) intervals give with the lower tuning. So I can easily recommend this disk to anyone who enjoys this music, and likes/doesn't mind HIP. If you need modern instruments, stay away, but otherwise this is a great addition to anyone's collection. 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I say again... Gardiner is the best of all time!,
By Mark Preece - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Handel: Water Music Suites 1, 2, 3, Music for the Royal Fireworks (Audio CD)
The combination of the Water Music as well as the Royal Fireworks on the same cd, makes this WELL worth the price. The interpretation of both these works is unsurpassed. Of course all recorded on period instruments! GET THIS CD. You will not be sorry.
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