Talk:Water Music

Acting Up?

User 71.140.25.47 has made an edit (12:24, 11 April 2006) that adds some rather incomprehensible data to me. The way the article used to read--

  1. Suite in F-major, HWV 348 
  2. Suite in D-major, HWV 349 
  3. Suite in G-major, HWV 350 

--has now been changed to the following:

  1. Suite in F-major, HWV 348 Acts I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
  2. Suite in D-major, HWV 349 Acts I II III IV V
  3. Suite in G-major, HWV 350 Acts I II III IV

Frankly, I don't know of any score or source that refers to the movements of the "Water Music" as "acts." Unless someone can provide a reference, I'm inclined to revert to the previous version of these lines under the assumption that the so-called "information" added is grossly inaccurate. But I await comment based on the possibility that the person who added it can produce something to defend its presence in the article. -MollyTheCat 01:51, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

This also seems bogus

Here is another sentence that someone added:

"Music for the Royal Fireworks" is often considered to be part of "Water Music". However, this is not the case.

I would like to know by whom the Fireworks Music is so considered? As far as I can tell, no one with any knowledge of Handel's music is in any doubt that these are two separate works. Perhaps, however, someone who is not all that conversant with Handel and buys a CD that has both works (which are often paired by record labels) might be confused. But I don't think this kind of confusion rises to the level that would justify its mention in the article. Comments, anyone? -MollyTheCat 01:57, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

OK, in the absence of comment, I have gone ahead and edited out the bogus "acts," and rewrote the other part referring to the Fireworks Music. I think the article sounds much more credible now. -MollyTheCat 00:11, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

Instrumentation

This article explains the orchestration adopted by Handel in a re-scored version. Although I have not researched this -- it would be advised that a mention should be added referring to the actual orchestra used for the premiere performance. As these kinds of music were not written for indoor performance, two oboes would not provide sufficient volume for an outdoor venue. Therefore, the actual numbers used would have exceeded this. However, I am not sure of figures -- I guess that around eight oboes were used etc. Anyone with time to research this are welcome.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.11.216.122 (talk • contribs) 13:30, June 4, 2006

Wow, that's an old comment. Surprised noone's said a think in almost two years...but anyway, for any who might care: I've never heard or read of Water Music's instrumentation requiring more than what's standard, though it's certainly true that Fireworks Music had a large compliment of winds. Remember that this was being preformed on a boat, and thus they couldn't have TOO many people there. ♫ Melodia Chaconne ♫ (talk) 22:44, 29 March 2008 (UTC)

What kind of boat were they on? Was it a boat normally used for entertainment, or did it have mundane duties to perform (e.g., shipping)? Willi Gers07 (talk) 16:27, 28 April 2009 (UTC)