Track Listing

1. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
2. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
3. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
4. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
5. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
6. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
7. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
8. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
9. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
10. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
11. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
12. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
13. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
14. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
15. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
16. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
17. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
18. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
19. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
20. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
21. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over
22. Wasser Overture, for 2 recorders, flute, 2 oboes, bassoon, strings & continuo in C major ('Hamburger Ebb und Fluth'), TWV 55:C3: Over

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21516 in Music
• Brand: Musica
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

a lesser known great
Telemann's Wassermusik (composed in 1723) is a highly enjoyable baroque masterpiece. The Harlequinade (track 6) is especially great, featuring a chorus of cellos over rollicking pizzicato violins. The Sarabande (track 2) is a sweet, beatuiful interlude after the bombastic overture. The exact meaning of the subtitles are unknown, but each movement carries a distinct flavor- and it is this abstract quality of instrumental music that Telemann so completely masters.

Goebel and the Musica Antiqua Koln bring so much to this music in skill, energy, feeling, and texture. The three recorder concertos show off the immense talents of the wind players, which is already apparent in the Water Music. Don't get me wrong- I'm not smashing recorders in the street- but I'm sure I'm not alone in my prejudice against this instrument (why are there so many Marion Verbruggen albums flooding the market?). These are fine works nonetheless, and for those of you who DO favor the instrument you'll enjoy this recording all the more. In any event, I've been finding a lot of surprises in Telemann's ouvre. It's no wonder he was so well regarded in his time. If you're having difficulty sifting through the scads of works by this composer, please give this CD a try. It is a perfect recording of a deeply pleasing work.

Relaxed and Transparent, Glorious Winds
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767): Overture in C major "Water Music" (or "Hamburger Ebb' und Fluth"); Concertos in B flat major, F major and A minor). Performed by Musica Antiqua Köln, directed by Reinhard Goebel. Recorded in 1984 at the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle in Hamburg-Harburg, Germany. Published in 1984 as DG Archiv 413 788-2. Total playing time: 49'10".

Telemann's "Water Music" is very different from Handel's. Published in 1723 to celebrate the centenary of the Hamburg "Admiralty" or Port Authority, it is basically a French-style suite of dances, preceded by a lengthy "Ouverture". The only number which does not fit into this scheme is no. 7, "Der stürmende Aeolus" in which the furious stormy winds which abound in the Hamburg district are allowed to rant and rave. The dance numbers are all given headings which indicate not only their particular dance rhythm but also show that Telemann intended to paint mythological pictures with them (Thetis, Neptune, the Naiads, Triton, Aeolus and Zephyr are all names from Greek mythology and have to do with the sea and the wind, so this is all very appropriate for a celebration in the port city of Hamburg). The last two numbers are a jig in which the coming and going of the tide is portrayed and a "canarie" which depicts the merry goings-on among the boatspeople.

Musica Antiqua Köln (Cologne) give a relaxed and very transparent performance of this music which I like very much, although I have to add that the version produced by Paul Dombrecht and his orchestra Il Fondamento for Vanguard Classics in 1996 (and re-released on the Belgian label Passacaille: ASIN: B000ALJ9C4) is, to my mind, even better, with slightly faster tempi and rather more emphasis on the winds. The Dombrecht is coupled with Handel's Water Musick, whereas Goebel adds three quite rare Telemann suites which are beautifully performed and give his winds a chance to display all their glory. And glory there is here, too, for Goebel has among his players some of the most famous German early music specialists, including Michael Schneider, Karl Kaiser, Hans-Peter Westermann and Michael McCraw, with no less than Andreas Staier and Harald Hoeren playing the two harpsichords (Dombrecht appears to use only one harpsichord).

47 minutes of delightful music
This CD is music comparable to Handle but with Telemann's own touch. Great music!