Midnight on the Water (Mark O'Connor album)

Midnight on the Water is a solo classical/bluegrass album by Mark O'Connor. In it are six of his original caprices and four improvisations, as well as his arrangements of some traditional folk works.

Midnight on the Water
Studio album by
Mark O'Connor
Released1998
Recorded1996
GenreClassical/Bluegrass
Length69:43
LabelSony Classical
ProducerMark O'Connor
Mark O'Connor chronology
Liberty!
(1997)		 Midnight on the Water
(1998)		 Fanfare for the Volunteer
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

The caprices are loosely based on Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin. They are in much the same spirit of technical difficulty - Mark O'Connor's word was that "This album easily represents my best playing on a recording." They contain many references to Paganini's Caprices, and draw upon O'Connor's repertoire of classic Texas fiddle motifs. In this, they represent a sort of bluegrass/classical virtuoso crossover, and a dedication to Paganini.

Midnight on the Water, the first part of the album's Track 17 medley, is a tune that Mark O'Connor's Texas mentor, Benny Thomasson, attributed to his father and uncle. It is somewhat of a dedication to Thomasson.

Track listing

All tracks are traditional and arranged by O'Connor or original works by O'Connor, except as indicated.

  1. "The Cricket Dance" (violin) – 1:40
  2. "Caprice No. 1 in A Major" (violin) – 3:25
  3. "Improvisation #1" (violin) – 2:53
  4. "Caprice No. 2 in G Minor" (violin) – 3:02
  5. "Follow the Scout" (mandolin) – 5:47
  6. "Caprice No. 3 in A Major" (violin) – 4:35
  7. "Improvisation #2" (violin) – 3:22
  8. "Caprice No. 4 in D Major" (violin) – 2:29
  9. "Fancy Stops and Goes" (guitar) – 3:48
  10. "Improvisation #3" (violin) – 4:06
  11. "Caprice No. 5 in F Major" (violin) – 2:41
  12. "River Out Back" (mandocello) – 4:39
  13. "Improvisation #4" (violin) – 5:20
  14. "Caprice No. 6 in G Major" (violin) – 2:53
  15. "Flailing" (guitar) – 6:31
  16. "The Star-Spangled Banner" (violin) (Key) – 2:01
  17. "Midnight on the Water/Bonaparte's Retreat" (violin) – 7:36
  18. "Amazing Grace" (violin) (Newton) – 2:54

Personnel
  • Mark O'Connor - violin, guitar, mandolin, and mandocello; producer, editing and post-production
  • Dave Sinko, assisted by Billy Saurel and Josh Sinko - Engineers
  • Denny Purcell - Mastering
  • Joel Zimmerman - Art Direction
  • Hans Neleman - Photography

References
  1. Owens, Thom. Midnight on the Water at AllMusic
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