WASIELEWSKY, Joseph W. von, author, violin-player and conductor, born June 17, 1822, at Gross Leesen, near Dantzig. His parents were both capable musicians, and his father taught him the violin at an early age, and urged the study of it upon him and his two elder brothers. Joseph repeatedly endeavoured to be allowed to take music as his profession; but it was not till April 3, 1843, that his wish was gratified by entering the Conservatorium at Leipzig under Mendelssohn's personal teaching. Other branches he learned under David and Hauptmann, and remained in the Conservatorium till Easter, 1845. He then played in the orchestras of the theatre, the Gewandhaus, and the Euterpe concerts, till 1850, when he left for Düsseldorf at the invitation of Schumann, and remained there for two years. In May, 1852, he removed to Bonn, and became conductor of the 'Concordia,' the Gesangverein, and the 'Beethoven-Verein.' After three years he exchanged this for Dresden. In 1869 he was recalled to Bonn as 'town music-director.' In 1858 he published his biography of Schumann (2nd and 3rd eds., 1869 and 1880); in 1869 his excellent book on the Violin and its Masters (Breitkopf & Härtel); in 1874 'Die Violine im 17 Jahrhundert,' etc. (Bonn); and 'History of Instrumental Music in the 16th Century' (Berlin). He has a decoration from the Duke of Meiningen (1871); and is a royal music-director (1873), and a member of the 'Accademia filarmonica' at Bologna.
WATER CARRIER, THE, the English version of Cherubini's 'Les deux journées.' It was produced in a very mutilated state in London in 1801 as 'The Escapes, or the Water Carrier,' and again at Covent Garden, Nov. 12, 1824, 'with the overture and all the music.' On Oct. 37, 1875, it was again produced, by Carl Rosa, at the Princess's Theatre, London, complete, with Mr. Santley as Micheli.
WATER MUSIC, THE. A series of Instrumental Movements composed by Handel.
On his return from Italy, in 1710, Handel was presented to the Elector of Hanover by Steffani, through whom he obtained the appointment of Capellmeister at the Electoral Court, with leave of absence for a visit to England. He returned in June, 1711; and, in 1712 obtained permission to make a second visit 'on condition that he engaged to return within a reasonable time.'[1] This he interpreted so liberally, that he was still busy in London when the Elector arrived there, under the title of King George I., Sept. 20, 1714. It was impossible for him to present himself at Court after such a dereliction of duty; but his friends, Baron Kielmansegge and the Earl of Burlington, procured his restoration to favour. By their advice he wrote a Suite of Movements for two Solo Violins, Flute, Piccolo, two Hautboys, one Bassoon, two Horns, two Trumpets, and Stringed Orchestra; and had them played, under his own direction, on Aug. 22, 1715, upon a boat, in which he followed the Royal Barge on its return from Limehouse to Whitehall. The King was delighted with the music and enquired the name of the composer. Baron Kielmansegge made good use of the opportunity, and so far appeased the King's resentment, that he not only restored Handel to favour, but accorded him a pension of £200 a year, in addition to one of equal amount previously granted to him by Queen Anne. We owe this account to Mainwaring.[2] Hawkins asserts that the pension was not granted till Handel's appearance at Court with Geminiani. The date rests on the authority of Malcolm,[3] who also tells us that a similar excursion took place, July 17, 1717, when the Royal Family proceeded by water to 'a supper-party, given by Lady Catharine Jones, at the house of the late Lord Ranelagh, at Chelsea'; and that Handel directed the orchestra with such success that the King commanded the whole of the music to be thrice repeated. As no second collection of 'Water Music' is known to be in existence, we are driven to the supposition that the compositions of 1715 were repeated in 1717. Dr. Chrysander is of opinion that the first performance took place in 1717; but the earlier date has always been accepted, and it is certain that Handel was reconciled to the King long before 1717.
The Water Music consists of twenty-one Movements, disposed in the following order:—
- Overture (Introduction and Fugue in F).
- Adagio.
- A Movement (Allo.?) in Triple Time.
- Andante.
- A Movement (Allo.?) in Triple Time.
- Air, in F.
- A Movement (Allo.?) in Triple Time.
- Boure (sic).
- Hornpipe (in 3-2 Time).
- A Movement (Allo.?) in D Minor.
- A Movement (Allo.?) in D Major.
- A Movement (Allo.?) in 3-2 Time.
- A Movement in form of a Sarabande.
- Aria, in G.
- Lentement.
- A Movement in form of a Bourrée.
- Menuet.
- Menuet.
- A Movement (Allo.?) in C Minor.
- A Movement (Allo.?) in G Major.
- Coro, in D Major.
The original autograph has disappeared; but two Movements, undated, and differing considerably from the printed copies, will be found in Add. MSS. 30,310, Brit. Mus.[4] The earliest printed edition is that of Walsh, published in 1740.
The Water Music arranged for the piano was once a favourite piece with amateurs, and many still living must recollect hearing its spirited and rhythmical strains in their childhood.
- ↑ Mainwaring, 'Memoirs of the Life of the late George Frederic Handel' (London, 1760). pp. 85, 86.
- ↑ Mainwaring, pp. 90-92.
- ↑ Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London, during the Eighteenth Century' (London, 1811).
- ↑ It is quite possible that these may have been remodelled for the performance in 1717.
