In the 5th Century BC, water was classified as one of the four essential elements and over the centuries, artists, poets, philosophers, and composers have returned repeatedly to the mysteries of water for inspiration. This week, we will focus on Water Music with works by Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Debussy, and (of course) Handel. Bill starts in the American Southwest with a traditional song, Bound for the Rio Grande performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale.
Water Music
Water droplet
Playlist
Episode 1
Tradition: “I’m Bound for the Rio Grande”
Robert Shaw Chorale/ Shaw
Sea Shanties
RCA 09026-63528
2:20
Handel, George Frederic: Water Music, Suite No. 1 in F Major
Vienna Concentus Musicus/ Harnoncourt
Water Music
Teld 4509-93668
28:07
Handel, George Frederic: Water Music, Suite No. 1 in F Major (excerpt -Hamilton Hardy version)
Philadelphia Orchestra/ Ormandy
The Royal Firework Suite / The Water Music Suite
CBS 6095
:43
Handel, George Frederic: Water Music, Suite No. 1 in F Major (excerpt)
Vienna Concentus Musicus/ Harnoncourt
Water Music
Teld 4509-9366
:24
Ravel, Maurice: “Ondine”
Ashkenazy, piano
Gaspard De la Nuit / Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte / Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales
Lon 410255
6:25
Wagner, Richard: Der fliegende Holländer: Overture
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Solti
The Complete Chicago Recordings
Lon 071201
11:32
Episode 2
Bax, Arnold: “Tintagel”
Ulster Orchestra/Thomson
Symphony No. 4 Tintagel
Chan 8312
15:00
Elgar, Edward: Sea Pictures (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/ Barbirolli J. Baker
Cello Concerto / Sea Pictures
EMI 56219
5:04
Delius, Frederick: “Summer Night on the River”
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Handley
Vaughan Williams & Delius – London Philharmonic / Handley
Chan 8330
7:03
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: A Sea Symphony (excerpt)
London Philharmonic Orchestra /Boult
A London Symphony; Fantasia on a Theme
London 425 658
19:15
Handel, George Frederic: Water Music (excerpt)
Philadelphia Orchestra/ Ormandy
The Royal Firework Suite / The Water Music Suite
CBS 6095
5:22
Episode 3
Mendelssohn, Felix: Hebrides Overture
Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Gibson
Seascapes
Chan 6538
10:10
Bridge, Frank: The Sea
Royal Liverpool Orchestra/Groves
The Sea + Summer, Cherry Ripe, Enter Spring, Lament
EMI 69870Sea Shanties
20:45
Britten, Benjamin: Four Sea Interludes
Ulster Orchestra/Handley
Sea Interludes
Chan 8473
15:36
Mahler, Gustav: Symphony No. 6 (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Solti
Symphony 6
Lon 414674
5:37
Episode 4
Smetana, Bedřich: Vlatava
Czech Philharmonic/Neumann
Smetana
Supraphon 0711
12:37
Liadov, Anatoly: The Enchanted Lake
London Symphony Orchestra/Jarvi
The Water Planet
Chan 7047
9:11
Traditional: “Swansea Town,” “Shenandoah”
Robert Shaw Chorale/Shaw
Sea Shanties
RCA 09026-63528
7:34
Argento, Dominick: “The Lake at Night”
Patrice Michaels; soprano, Elizabeth Buccheri; piano, Larry Combs; clarinet
To Be Sung Upon the Water: Cycles by Dominick Argento
Cedille 90000 029
3:55
Grofé, Ferde: Mississippi Suite
New York Philharmonic/ Kostelanetz
Grand Canyon Suite & Mississippi Suites
CBS 37759
12:29
Simon and Garfunkel: “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Simon and Garfunkel
The Concert in Central Park
Warner Bros 3654
4:49
Episode 5
Handel, George Frederic: Water Music
Concentus Musicus/ Harnoncourt
Water Music
Telefunken 42497
20:07
Debussy, Claude: La Mer
ORTF/Martinon
Heroes – Jussi Bjorling
EMI 69587
24:28
Jobim, Antonio Carlos: Waters of March
Elis & Tom
Elis & Tom
Philips 6349112
3:30
Ravel, Maurice: Gaspard de la nuit” “Ondine” (excerpt)
Ashkenazy, piano
Gaspard de la nuit; Pavane; Valses nobles et sentimentales
Lon 410255
5:42