Water Music (Wassermusik),TWV 55:C3, is the common name of an orchestralsuite by the German Baroque composerGeorg Philipp Telemann, with the full titleHamburger Ebb' und Fluth (Hamburg ebb and flood).
Telemann composed the piece in tenmovements to celebrate the centennial anniversary of theHamburg Admiralty [de] in a performance on 6 April 1723. The suite draws uponHamburg's geographical location as an important and successful port on the riverElbe while Telemann illustrates the piece with mythologicalwater deities andtone painting giving the nautical theme added depth. The overture begins by representing the physical movement of the ocean, followed by several dance movements: first, the sleeping sea goddessThetis, the mother of Achilles, who then awakes; the sea godNeptune in love; playful water nymphs known asNaiads; Neptune's son and sea messengerTriton joking;Aeolus, ruler of the winds; and Zephir, god of the west wind. Two final pieces follow, one depicting the tides of Hamburg and finally, its happy sailors.[1]: 84–93 [2][3]
