Transcript Part 1 The Materials of Music

Class #3
Baroque Music, part 2
– George Frideric Handel
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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
London and the Royal
Academy of Music
Halle, (West) Germany
Handel’s Vocal
Music
• 42 operas
• 29 oratorios
• 129 Cantatas
• Expanded role of the
chorus
Handel’s
Instrumental
Music
•
Prolific composer of
instrumental music
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Orchestral suites
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Water Music
Music for the
Royal Fireworks
HWV numbers
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Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis
– (abbreviated as HWV)
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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
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#2: Concerto Grosso
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Harp Concerto
New terms
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Concerto
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Sonata
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Tutti
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Suites
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
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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 ashore 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
Contrapuntal Devices
Original:
Inversion:
Retrograde:
Retrograde inversion:
Augmentation:
Diminution:
Handel’s Vocal Music
“Opera is the delight of Princes.”
—Marco Da Gagliano
Two types of vocal music…
• Oratorio
• Opera
Oratorio and Opera Similarities
• Overture
• Aria
– Da capo aria
• Recitative
• Ensemble numbers:
– Duet, Trio, Quartet, etc.
• Chorus
Oratorio and Opera Differences
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Language
– Italian vs. English
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Staging
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Subject matter
– Libretto (Librettist)
– Sacred vs. Sacred Text
Baroque Oratorio
• Oratorio
– 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
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Recitative
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Text is centered on the plot
Simple to sing
No melody or rhythmic complexities
Chords accompanied on the harpischord
Aria
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Text is about the character’s feelings
Highly difficult music requires vocal technique
Memorable tunes
Full orchestral accompaniment
Recitative from Theodora
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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
• Acting
• Scenery
• Costumes
• Instrumental music
Baroque Opera: Semele
Voice assignments
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Soprano
Mezzo-Soprano
– Alto or Contralto
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Tenor
Baritone
Bass
Julius Cesare
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Montserrat Caballe
– “Vadoro pupille”
Legacy
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Fell out of popularity after his death.
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Original instruments revival (1970s)
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Bel Canto revival (1960s)
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http://gfhandel.org/