Handel - Water Musick / PBO, McGegan

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Nicholas McGegan's period-instrument account of the complete Water Music is informed, vibrant, and brilliantly recorded--a wonderful argument for authenticity. As an interpretation it ranks second to none, conveying the dances in a spritely, vivacious manner. The ensemble, consisting mostly of American players, is not quite as brilliant as the London bands that have dominated the period scene until recently. But while there are moments where the execution is just a bit under par (the oboes, for example, get a little scrappy in places), there can scarcely be any complaints about Lowell Greer's superb work as first horn. Listening to the disc is like sitting in on a performance; the experience is one of music from start to finish. The recording is intimate, a bit dry but with just enough ambience to give life to the sound, and very clear. --Ted Libbey

Handel - Water Musick / PBO, McGegan, Music, George Frideric Handel, Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Classical, Classical Music, Keyboard, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music, Suite/Partita for Keyboard
Handel - Water Musick / PBO, McGegan
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Lively and rhythmic Water Music
  • good, but....
  • on second thoughts....
  • Ordinary
 Handel - Water Musick / PBO, McGegan
George Frideric Handel , Nicholas McGegan , and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by HandelAll Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000007CC
Release Date: 1992-12-14

Tracks:

  1. Suite In F Major: Overture- Largo-Allegro
  2. Suite In F Major: Adagio e Staccato
  3. Suite In F Major: (Allegro)-Andante-Allegro Da Capo-
  4. Suite In F Major: Minuet
  5. Suite In F Major: Air
  6. Suite In F Major: Minuet
  7. Suite In F Major: Bourree
  8. Suite In F Major: Hornpipe
  9. Suite In F Major: Andante
  10. Variation 1
  11. Variation 2: Alla Hornpipe
  12. Suite In G Major: Minuet
  13. Suite In G Major: Rigaudon-Rigaudon II-Rigaudon I Da Capo
  14. Suite In G Major: Menuet, (Menuet II), Menuet da capo
  15. Suite In G Major: Gigue--Gigue II--Gigue da capo
  16. Suite In D Major: Allegro
  17. Suite In D Major: Alla Hornpipe
  18. Suite In D Major: Minuet
  19. Suite In D Major: Lentement
  20. Suite In D Major: Bourree

Amazon.com

Nicholas McGegan's period-instrument account of the complete Water Music is informed, vibrant, and brilliantly recorded--a wonderful argument for authenticity. As an interpretation it ranks second to none, conveying the dances in a spritely, vivacious manner. The ensemble, consisting mostly of American players, is not quite as brilliant as the London bands that have dominated the period scene until recently. But while there are moments where the execution is just a bit under par (the oboes, for example, get a little scrappy in places), there can scarcely be any complaints about Lowell Greer's superb work as first horn. Listening to the disc is like sitting in on a performance; the experience is one of music from start to finish. The recording is intimate, a bit dry but with just enough ambience to give life to the sound, and very clear. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Lively and rhythmic Water Music.......2006-01-17

I am a big fan of Handel orchestral music, and this is my favorite Water Music recording. In my opinion, some of the reviews posted here underrate this performance. McGegan does a great job of capturing Handel's inner rhythms, and at the reissue price this recording is a real bargain.

3 out of 5 stars good, but...........2000-06-28

...not as good as Trevor Pinnock's marvellous recording for DG Archiv. Although quite elderly now (it was my test disc when I went looking for my first CD player 15 years ago), its bounce and gaiety put it right at the top of the heap, as far as I'm concerned. This new one is nicely played, but to me it just doesn't have the joie de vivre of the Pinnock version.

5 out of 5 stars on second thoughts...........2000-06-28

I wrote the two-star review above (below?). On rehearing it, I think that I might have been a bit too harsh. Certainly after all the palaver I'd heard I was expecting something special and I felt let down when I didn't get it. To my mind, there remains no doubt that Pinnock's old recording for Archiv remains clearly the best in the field, bar none. However, this recording, while lacking the bounce and exuberance of Pinnock, is nicely played. I think 3.5 stars is about correct, so, if I award it five stars now, my rating will average out to what I think is the correct one. But do yourself a favour and hear Pinnock before you buy this one!

2 out of 5 stars Ordinary.......2000-05-15

Don't be taken in by the palaver on the back of the CD box. This is a competent performance, but, in my opinion, dull, dull, dull. The best version remains Pinnock's wonderful late '80s version for DG Archiv which sparkles with life like no other I know.
Handel - Water Musick / PBO · McGegan
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Lively and rhythmic Water Music
  • good, but....
  • on second thoughts....
  • Ordinary
 Handel - Water Musick / PBO · McGegan
George Frideric Handel , Nicholas McGegan , and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by HandelAll Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Baroque | Classical | General | Modern & 20th Century | Romantic | Sinfonia | Sinfonia Concertante
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
ASIN: B00004SCUO
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Amazon.com

Nicholas McGegan's period-instrument account of the complete Water Music is informed, vibrant, and brilliantly recorded--a wonderful argument for authenticity. As an interpretation it ranks second to none, conveying the dances in a spritely, vivacious manner. The ensemble, consisting mostly of American players, is not quite as brilliant as the London bands that have dominated the period scene until recently. But while there are moments where the execution is just a bit under par (the oboes, for example, get a little scrappy in places), there can scarcely be any complaints about Lowell Greer's superb work as first horn. Listening to the disc is like sitting in on a performance; the experience is one of music from start to finish. The recording is intimate, a bit dry but with just enough ambience to give life to the sound, and very clear. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Lively and rhythmic Water Music.......2006-01-17

I am a big fan of Handel orchestral music, and this is my favorite Water Music recording. In my opinion, some of the reviews posted here underrate this performance. McGegan does a great job of capturing Handel's inner rhythms, and at the reissue price this recording is a real bargain.

3 out of 5 stars good, but...........2000-06-28

...not as good as Trevor Pinnock's marvellous recording for DG Archiv. Although quite elderly now (it was my test disc when I went looking for my first CD player 15 years ago), its bounce and gaiety put it right at the top of the heap, as far as I'm concerned. This new one is nicely played, but to me it just doesn't have the joie de vivre of the Pinnock version.

5 out of 5 stars on second thoughts...........2000-06-28

I wrote the two-star review above (below?). On rehearing it, I think that I might have been a bit too harsh. Certainly after all the palaver I'd heard I was expecting something special and I felt let down when I didn't get it. To my mind, there remains no doubt that Pinnock's old recording for Archiv remains clearly the best in the field, bar none. However, this recording, while lacking the bounce and exuberance of Pinnock, is nicely played. I think 3.5 stars is about correct, so, if I award it five stars now, my rating will average out to what I think is the correct one. But do yourself a favour and hear Pinnock before you buy this one!

2 out of 5 stars Ordinary.......2000-05-15

Don't be taken in by the palaver on the back of the CD box. This is a competent performance, but, in my opinion, dull, dull, dull. The best version remains Pinnock's wonderful late '80s version for DG Archiv which sparkles with life like no other I know.

Track Listings:

  1. Helmuth Rilling Conducting Romantic Choral Music [Box set]
  2. Inspiratión: Guitar Music for Paraguay, Spain and Cuba
  3. Instrumental Favorites
  4. J.S. Bach; Four Concerti Transcribed / Marriner / Hogwood
  5. Janacek: Glagolithic Mass / Zemlinsky: Psalm 83
  6. Jerusalem: Gregorian Chant and Early Polyphony
  7. John Tavener: The Hidden Face
  8. Laurel Zucker, Virtuoso Flutist
  9. Mass in E Flat
  10. Mendelssohn: Italian & Reformation Symphonies

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Bananamour [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Crossing The Border

Boom Boom

Almost Home

Undead in NYC

Don't Talk [CD-single] [Import]

Flirting with Twilight

Instruccion De Musica Sobre La Guitarra Espanola

Freddy Fender: 20 Hits

Fine Arabian Stuff

Further Down The Spiral [EP] [Import]

Drumhead

Emulatory Whoredom

I'm Free

1947-1949