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Article Evaluation of Handel's Water Music
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Music

Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?

Everything is relevant in the article to the topic of Water Music by George Handel. This is a portion where it talks about the other editions of Water Music, which had me a little distracted and lost.

“There is evidence for the different arrangement found in Chrysander's Gesellschaft edition of Handel's works (in volume 47, published in 1886), where the movements from the "suites" in D and G were mingled and published as one work with HWV 348. This sequence derives from Samuel Arnold's first edition of the complete score in 1788 and the manuscript copies dating from Handel's lifetime. Chrysander's edition also contains an earlier version of the first two movements of HWV 349 in the key of F major composed in 1715 (originally scored for two natural horns, two oboes, bassoon, strings and continuo), where in addition to the horn fanfares and orchestral responses, the original version contained an elaborate concerto-like first violin part.”

I think the article should specifically focus of George Frideric Handel’s edition of Water Music. However, with saying this, it did still relate to the main topic of Water Music.

Is the article neutral? Are there any claims, or frames, that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?

Yes, the article is neutral. The article is more educationally written about Water Music versus an opinion-based article.

Are there viewpoints that are over represented or underrepresented?

Similar to the above question, this topic is more educational-based instead of opinion-based. There is no category that dominates the article.

Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article? Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?

Most of the links I checked did seem to work, however, there were some that did not. The sources listed do represent the claims in the article, or at the least the titles of the ones I could not find seem to at least relate to the article. Lastly, the sources I was able to research are all neutral and non-biased. Under the paragraph, Structure, the article talks about other editions of Water Music by Chrysander Gesellschaft and Samuel Arnold. The citation that “supports” this information is very hard to find. Being that I am unable to find the source, it’s hard to say whether it is credible or reliable. It is listed as: Wassermusik [Water Music] (score) (in German), Germany: Bib BVB (the piece is given its German title in this edition by Friedrich Chrysander, Leipzig 1886).

The second of sources, the Daily Courant, is the first British daily newspaper and there are other sources who do claim this source did write about Water Music the day after it was performed.

A third source listed is a textbook, Handel: Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks, does exist and is an actual published novel by Cambridge University Press. Therefore I would strongly suggest the information cited from this source is reliable and credible.

The fourth source, a documentary of Handel’s Water Music, was created in 2005 based on the premiere of Water Music. There are many websites that have the documentary for purchase and provide summaries. One summary states that it “documents the story behind the premiere of Handel’s ‘Water Music’ on the Thames in 1717, with the English Concert performing favorite movements from the work in period costumes on the river” (O’Brien, 2016).

I am unable to find the fifth source, Simply Handel by Andrew Wilkinson on linear notes. This source seems to be non-existent and Andrew Wilkinson doesn’t appear to have any articles or notes on Water Music by George Handel. The author uses this citation for a few sentences under the paragraph, Legends. In summary, it describes how King George I had employed Handel and during this time, Handel moved to London, therefore King George I upset. The king had forgiven Handel because he knew the move would be temporary. I am unable to find any sources that support this at this time; however, it may or may not be true.

The sixth source is from Fodor on Orlando’s Disney World and it does include information on the Electrical Water Pageant Review on Handel’s Water Music. It does back the sentence in the article: “From 1977 to 1996, Walt Disney World featured movements from both installments of Water Music as the background music for the Electrical Water Pageant, a parade of sea creatures lit up with electric lights off the coast of the Magic Kingdom.”

Under paragraph, Popular culture and the media, there is a sentence that has no citation provided. ‘A performance of Water Music plays a major role in the movie The Madness of King George, in which King George III exhibits very erratic and inappropriate behavior at a concert, yelling at the orchestra to play louder (and eventually taking the place of the harpsichordist, playing very badly), culminating in a physical altercation with the Prince of Wales, leading to the Prince of Wales asking to be named Regent.’ I am unable to find a citation to see state if this information is accurate or not.

Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?

The author of this article does a fantastic job of describing the First Performance, however, I think the below quote from the Daily Courant could also be included to show how much different the language was at the time Water Music was performed.

On Wednesday Evening, at about 8, the King took Water at Whitehall in an open Barge, … and went up the River towards Chelsea. Many other Barges with Persons of Quality attended, and so great a Number of Boats, that the whole River in a manner was cover’d; a City Company’s Barge was employ’d for the Musick, wherein were 50 insturments of all sorts, who play’d all the Way from Lambeth (while the Barges drove the Tide without Rowing, as far as Chelsea) the finest Symphonies, compos’d express for this Occasion, by Mr. Handel: which his Majesty liked so well, that he caus’d it to be plaid over three times in going and returning.

Also, another important fact to include is the suite’s twenty-two numbers were performed without continuo instruments because it was no possible to lug a harpsichord aboard the barge. Being that it was an outdoor performance (which is mentioned) it could be included that Handel had to really create music that had lively rhythms and catchy melodies to compete with the breeze of the river, bird calls, and other outdoor noises.

“The Water Music is scored for a relatively large orchestra, making it suitable for outdoor performance.” Water Music is actually ideal and a favorite for either indoors or outdoors performances.

Check out the Talk page. What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?

The first section, Acting Up?, of the talk section discusses whether to consider the three suites of Water Music as HMVs or acts. The article originally had them listed as HMVs, but then a user changed them to Acts without any credible reference. It has now been changed back to HMVs. Second, a sentence had read: “Music for the Royal Fireworks” is often considered to be part of “Water Music.” A writer had argued that anyone with knowledge of Handel’s work would know these are two very separate works. This sentence was omitted due to lack of debate.

Another interesting edit was the removal of the paragraph, “Music and instrumentation.” The paragraph had originally stated “all the instruments in the Baroque orchestra were included in the composition, except the harpsichord and timpani…” The editor argued the harpsichord was rarely noted as an obbligato instrument in the Baroque and when featured in orchestral works it was noted as unusual. From our textbook, I had read (basso) continuo instruments were left behind. Basso continuo entailed “one or more musicians playing the bass line on a cello or a bassoon, and other filled in the harmonies on a chordal instrument (generally harpsichord, organ or lute) (Forney, K., Dell'Antonio, A., & Machlis, J. (2015). It may have shown the previous author was not completely inaccurate by saying the harpsichord was left behind, however, the statement did need more additional information.

How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?

On the quality scale, the article is rated as Start-Class. This means it is an article that is developing but is incomplete. It also may have inadequate or unreliable sources. On the importance scale, it is rated as mid-importance, meaning it fills in minor details. The article falls under the scope of WikiProject Classical Music and WikiProject Thames. However, WikiProject Thames is inactive at this time due to lack of response.

How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we’ve talked about it in class?

Wikipedia has the article laid out into a few different categories, which our textbook has it laid out into paragraphs and pages based on each topic. Also, since the Wikipedia article is only about Water Music, it really only starts and ends with that topic. Our textbook ties the topic in with the Baroque era and the Baroque suite, but also mentions it in other areas periodically during the chapter where it is relevant.

References