Handel Water Music - best CD? - Performance Recording

I own the Pinnock/Archive, and no one will argue that it belongs near the top of any list. Also agree that McGegan/HM
has excellent sound, but my first choice is Hogwood/Lyre which also has beautiful sound. Sold as reduced price double disc which includes Royal Fireworks and several assorted concerti. L'oiseau Lyre was way ahead of other labels in the 1980s making quality digital CD recordings.

I do much prefer period instruments for this work vs modern instruments.

Thanks for the leads, but I'd like to know what you mean by modern instruments. ...Do you mean period true instruments vs. current reproductions?

Cheers,
Mike

Gerard Schwarz, Los Angles Chamber Orchestra on Delos. The recording was done in late 1980. It is a two mike, true stereo recording. IMHO it is OUTSTANDING.

mike: "period" or "historic" instruments means instruments of the kind played at the time of the composition. obviously, these are the instruments of the variety for which the composition was written. such instruments may have been constructed in the 17th century or 1998; no difference, at least definitionally. "modern" instruments, on the other hand, means instruments you would see and hear today if you attended a symphonic or other concert. there is often a striking difference between versions of the same composition played on modern and historic instruments. both varieties of playings of handel's works are worth a listen. -kelly

Many violins played in modern orchestras date back to the days of Handel and Mozart; the difference is the historic orchestras use the old gut strings, so there is a lighter sound. Also they are not tuned the same. I cannot remember which way it goes, but what is say a normal B note in Handel's time is now either a B flat or B sharp today. So when you listen to a historic recording, you not only hear the gut strings, you are also listening to the music a half a note different than a modern performance. Since historic performances sound higher pitched to me, the modern tuning is probably a half note lower.

I usually prefer modern (not always). I always prefer modern instruments at the Dentist.