Transcript Part 1 The Materials of Music

Music Appreciation (MUSI 115)
Class #4
Baroque Music, conclusion
George Frideric Handel
1685-1759
JS Bach……
• "[Handel] is the only person I
would wish to see before I die,
and the only person I would wish
to be, were I not Bach."
George Frideric Handel
• German-born composer of
Italian, French, and
German styles catering to
English audiences
George Frideric Handel
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Studied in Italy
International career
Impresario and theater owner
Made and lost a fortune
Founded the London and the
Royal Academy of Music
Halle, (West) Germany
Handel’s Vocal Music
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42 operas*
•
29 oratorios*
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129 cantatas*
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Expanded dramatic
intensity of the chorus*
Handel’s
Instrumental Music
•
Prolific composer of
instrumental music
•
Orchestral suites
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Water Music
Music for the
Royal
Fireworks
HWV numbers
• Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis
▫ (abbreviated as HWV)
 Catalogue of Handel's Works
▫ London Home
Handel’s
Instrumental Music
Baroque Instruments
• Instrument designs
were improved
• Finest violins in
history came from
shops of
Stradivarius
Guarneri
Amati
The Baroque Orchestra
 Violin strings made of gut
 Woodwinds made of wood
 valveless, or “natural”
 Horns and trumpets
 Timpani
Baroque Keyboard Instruments
• Organ
• Harpsichord
• Clavichord
harpsichord
The Baroque
Sonata*
1. Sonata da camera*
2. Sonata da chiesa*
• Written for 1–8 instruments
• Most often: two violins and continuo*
• Handel Trio sonata*
Baroque Concerto*
• Contrast and unity
• Latin concertare (“to contend with”)
• Opposition of different forces
Two Types of Concerto
#1: Solo Concerto*
Organ concerto
Two Types of Concerto
• #2: Concerto Grosso*
 Harp Concerto
Two orchestral suites* by Handel
• Water Music* 1717
• Music for the Royal
Fireworks* 1749
Water Music*, Suite in D major, II
• Royal party on the Thames River in London,
July 17, 1717
• 22 separate stand-alone pieces
▫
Hornpipe
First performance
• April 17, 1717. Daily Courant :
The King took Water at Whitehall in an open Barge ... and went up
the [Thames] River towards Chelsea. Many other Barges with
Persons of Quality attended, and so great a Number of Boats, that
the whole River in a manner was cover'd; a City Company's Barge
was employ'd for the Musick, wherein were 50 instruments of all
sorts, who play'd all the Way from Lambeth the finest Symphonies,
compos'd express for this Occasion, by Mr. Hendel; which his
Majesty liked so well, that he caus'd it to be plaid over three times
in going and returning. At Eleven his Majesty went a-shore at
Chelsea where a Supper was prepar'd, and then there was another
very fine Consort of Musick, which lasted till 2; after which, his
Majesty came again into his Barge, and return'd the same Way,
the Musick continuing to play till he landed.
Royal Fireworks Music* 1749
• Golden Jubilee in 2002
Two types of vocal music…
•Oratorio*
•Opera*
Oratorio* and Opera* Similarities
• Overture*
• Aria*
▫ Da capo al Fine*
• Recitative*
• Ensemble numbers:
▫ Duet*, (Trio*, Quartet*, etc.)
• Chorus*
Oratorio and Opera Differences
• Language
▫ Italian vs. English
• Staging
• Subject matter
▫ Libretto (Librettist)
▫ Sacred vs. Sacred Text
Baroque Oratorio*
• Oratorio
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Performed by solo voices
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Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass (or, Baritone)
large chorus (SATB)
orchestra
no staging or costumes
Handel: Messiah*
• Premiered in Dublin in 1742
• Written in 24 days
• Libretto*: in three separate parts
• Compilation of Old and New Testament text
Aria vs. Recitative
• Recitative*
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Text is centered on the plot
Simple to sing
No melody or rhythmic complexities
Simple chords accompanied on the harpischord*
• Aria*
▫ Text focuses on the character’s feelings
▫ Highly difficult music requires a virtuoso vocal
technique
▫ Memorable tunes
▫ Full orchestral accompaniment
Recitative from Theodora
• Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Ah! Whither should we fly, or fly from whom?
The Lord is still the same, today, for ever,
And his protection here, and everywhere.
Though gath'ring round our destin'd heads
The storm now thickens, and looks big with fate,
Still shall thy servants wait on Thee, O Lord,
And in thy saving mercy put their trust.
Messiah: Soprano aria “Rejoice greatly
(da capo aria)
Melisma
Baroque Opera*
The New Genre of the Baroque Era
Large-scale musical drama combining
• Singing
• Plot (Secular)
• Acting
• Scenery
• Costumes
• Instrumental music
Baroque Opera: Semele
Voice assignments*
• Soprano
• Alto
▫ Mezzo-Soprano or Contralto
 Replacing castrati
• Tenor
• Baritone/Bass
Julius Cesare (1724)
• Montserrat Caballe
▫ “Vadoro pupille”
Legacy
• Fell out of popularity after his death
• Original instruments revival (1970s)
• Bel Canto revival (1960s)
• http://gfhandel.org/
CD #1, Track “Hallelujah” Chorus from
Messiah (HWV 56)
• Listen for…
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Enormous, vertical columns of sound;
SATB voicing
Full orchestral sound
Minimal contrapuntal motion
Back to Bach…
• The Passion According To St. John (1724)
▫ Recitative: “…Then Peter thought about the words
of Jesus. He went out and he began to sob
bitterly…”
Contrapuntal Devices
Original:
Inversion:
Retrograde:
Retrograde inversion:
Augmentation:
Diminution: