When this album was recorded in 1980, the English Baroque Soloists ensemble had only been founded for barely two years. Indeed, John Eliot Gardiner first created the Monteverdi Choir in 1964, then the Monteverdi Orchestra in 1968 which played on modern instruments. In the late 1970s the orchestra transitioned to period instruments and became the English Baroque Soloists. The first concert under the new name was in 1977 at the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, although the orchestra was not officially formed until 1978. The Water Music Suites is one of English Baroque Soloists' first recordings. The instrumental level is remarkable, Gardiner's aesthetic being already made of accuracy, instrumental perfection, intonation and dynamism - it was a question of breaking down all the prejudgments that could exist on the baroque at that time.

Disc 1

Track name

Artist

1.Appendix: Variant No. 1 in F Major, HWV331/1

English Baroque Soloists

2.I. Overture: Largo - Allegro

English Baroque Soloists

3.II. Adagio E Staccato

English Baroque Soloists

4.III. Allegro

English Baroque Soloists

5.IV. Andante - Minuet (Reprise)

English Baroque Soloists

6.V. Passepied

English Baroque Soloists

7.VI. Air

English Baroque Soloists

8.VII. Minuet

English Baroque Soloists

9.VIII. Bouree - IX. Hornpipe

English Baroque Soloists

10.X. Allegro

English Baroque Soloists

11.Appendix: Alla Hornpipe, HWV331/2

English Baroque Soloists

12.I. Minuet

English Baroque Soloists

13.II. Rigaudons I & II

English Baroque Soloists

14.III. Minuets I & II

English Baroque Soloists

15.IV. Gigues I & II

English Baroque Soloists

16.I. Allegro

English Baroque Soloists

17.II. Alla Hornpipe

English Baroque Soloists

18.III. Minuet

English Baroque Soloists

19.IV. Lentement

English Baroque Soloists

20.V. Bourree

English Baroque Soloists

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