Midnight On The Water

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Midnight On The Water
Studio album by Mark O'Connor
Released	1998
Recorded	1996
Genre	Classical/Bluegrass
Length	69:43
Label	Sony Classical
Producer(s)	Mark O'Connor
Professional reviews
All Music Guide [1]
Mark O'Connor chronology
Liberty! (1997)	Midnight On The Water (1998)	Fanfare for the Volunteer (1999)

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.

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.

[edit] 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

[edit] Personnel

• Mark O'Connor - Violin, Guitar, Mandolin, and Mandocello

also

• Mark O'Connor - 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

Americana Classical Fusion
Ma, Meyer, O'Connor Appalachia Albums
Appalachia Waltz (1996) | Appalachian Journey (2000)
Mark O'Connor Classical Albums
The Fiddle Concerto (1994) | Midnight On The Water (1998) | Fanfare for the Volunteer (1999) | The American Seasons (2001)
Other Meyer, Fleck Projects
Uncommon Ritual (1997) | Short Trip Home (1999) | Perpetual Motion (2001) | Music For Two (2004)