Georg Friedrich Haendel (1689-1755)
Water Music & Fireworks
First historical version

Water Music. Suite I (HWV 348)
01 Ouverture & Adagio
02 Allegro
03 Andante
04 Allegro Da Capo
05 Presto
06 Air
07 Menuet
08 Bourrée & Hornpipe
09 Air

Water Music. Suite II (HWV 349)
10 Prélude
11 Alla Hornpipe
12 Menuet
13 Lentement
14 Bourrée

Water Music. Suite III (HWV 350)
15 Sarabande
16 Rigaudons
17 Menuets
18 Gigues

Music for the Royal Fireworks (HWV 351)
19 Ouverture. Adagio
20 Ouverture. Allegro
21 Bourrée
22 La Paix
23 La Réjouissance
24 Menuets

"After half a century of musicological, organological and scientific investigation, the different guidelines we use for interpreting the Baroque repertoire have become very precise. If so, why are we still suspicious of the results of these investigations? It has been the intention of the hundred (!!!) musicians gathered here for the performance of the Water Music and Fireworks suites, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Le Concert Spirituel, to put into practice, without any concessions, what they know of these early techniques, each one according to his or her field of specialization.” (Hervé Niquet)

Oboes (24), bassoons (14), natural trumpets (9) and natural horns (9) were all especially built for this recording, stictly based on Baroque models. The resulting instruments imposed the use of mean-tone temperament on the whole orchestra.

Hervé Niquet: “The sound is unusual in its colours and its energy; some ears, unaccostumed to mean-tone temperament, can expect to be surprised. But our queries and intuitions have met with bold answers, transparent and enriching, and that, without a doubt, show respect for the work.”

Another brave, enlightening and fundamental recording from Glossa.