Handel/Harty - Water Music Suite - Part 1

A request. This is Sir Hamilton Harty's highly regarded arrangement of Handel's Water Music recorded for Columbia in 1933. Perhaps better known as a conductor, he nevertheless wrote many well received works in the late Romantic vein. These records look like new but suffer from some damage from being played with a heavy tone arm and worn needle. Acoustic phonographs (especially orthophonics) permit the needle to track the sound waves in the record grooves in such a way that the needle can move freely back and forth due to a fairly flexible mounting. Electric phonographs of the '30's had even heavier tone arms and needle mountings that were quite rigid resulting in much more damage to the records. As a result records issued in the early '30's often don't play well even if they look fine.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hamilton
• Harty
• Handel
• Water
• Music

[kspm01]

Thanks a lot for sharing! Despite some very limited groove damage overall sound is warm, dynamic and atmospheric. Although today, many would consider an arrangement for modern orchestra being dated, this orchestration is stunning and highly skilful. The result is sheer delight, I love it!

[merrihew]

It was a pleasure to post it.

[jrakg]

Harty's 1933 recording of his arrangement of Handel's "Water Music" with the newly-created London Philharmonic Orchestra was deservedly popular and remained in production right up to the LP era, 20 years later. Better copies or better transfers would be welcome. - John Austin, Australia.

[wmier2]

Wow! Thanks for posting! We did this same exact arrangement my senior year of high school for orchestra. I was the only horn player at my high school...

[2ndviolinist]

Don't feel bad. No group of modern players can get this radiant sound.  It's rare to hear to hear this kind of playing after WW II.

[crlsktr91]

thanks for posting this beautiful arrangement. We played this with our orchestra and it didn't sound like this (Probably 'cose we suck). thanks.

[Bereyoga]

Wow!!!! I'm searching for this!!! Just 2 week on youtube!! I'm a lucky man!