The Water Music Complete cover

The Water Music Complete

George Frideric Handel · 1983

54 min · 18 tracks · classical music

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
76 /100
Alpine
Higher than 75% of albums we've rated

The suite-by-suite dance contrasts and recurring returns make the writing durable; the movement order gives the collection shape, though this recording's execution is uncertain.

What we noticed

  • The F-major suite opens with an overture, then moves through an Adagio and several brisk dance movements, including an Air, Minuet, Bourrée and Hornpipe.
  • The D-major suite places its Alla Hornpipe second, then shifts through Minuet, Lentement and Bourrée rather than maintaining one tempo.
  • The G-major suite closes with paired Rigaudon, Minuet and Gigue sections, each marked for a return or da capo.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Suite I in F: Ouverture 3:49
  • 2 Suite I in F: Adagio e staccato 2:09
  • 3 Suite I in F: (Allegro) Andante / (Allegro da capo) 7:09
  • 4 Suite I in F: (Allegro) 4:24
  • 5 Suite I in F: Air 2:58
  • 6 Suite I in F: Minuet 3:15
  • 7 Suite I in F: Bourrée 2:07
  • 8 Suite I in F: Hornpipe 2:26
  • 9 Suite I in F: (Allegro) 3:56
  • 10 Suite II in D: (Allegro) 2:11
  • 11 Suite II in D: Alla Hornpipe 3:42
  • 12 Suite II in D: Minuet 2:06
  • 13 Suite II in D: Lentement 2:01
  • 14 Suite II in D: Bourrée 1:12
  • 15 Suite III in G: Sarabande 2:45
  • 16 Suite III in G: Rigaudon / (Rigaudon II) / Rigaudon (da capo) 2:51
  • 17 Suite III in G: Minuet / (Minuet II) 3:43
  • 18 Suite III in G: (Gigue) / (Gigue II) / (Gigue da capo) 1:23

What to play next

Concerti Grossi, Op. 6
Listen next

Concerti Grossi, Op. 6

1983
Pachelbel: Canon / Handel / Vivaldi / Gluck
Go back to

Pachelbel: Canon / Handel / Vivaldi / Gluck

1983
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Reference: MusicBrainz