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WesternClassical Music1600-1899Handel: And the Glory of

the Lord from Messiah

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Learning Outcomes

Learningoutcomes

We will learn about the context/background of this piece and alsolearn about some of its musical features and ideas.

Process

To learn this, we will research key questions about Handel and thetype of work it comes from. We will also play/sing the key musicalideas and then attempt to learn a section of the piece as a classchoir.

Successcriteria

We will know we have succeeded if we leave the lesson familiar withthe music and its key ideas, as well as an understanding of when/whyit was composed.

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Context Written in the Baroque period (c.1600-1750).

George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)

German composer who spent most of hisadult life working in England, even becomingKing George Is composer (is buried inWestminster Abbey).

Messiah is an oratorio, composed in 1741.

And the Glory of the Lord is a chorus fromMessiah.

Handel clip.htm

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Research task

1. What is an oratorio?

2. What features do operas and oratorioshave in common?

3. Why did Handel turn to the oratoriowhen he had previously composedmany Italian style operas?

4. What instruments accompany thesingers in Messiah?

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Research findings1. What is an oratorio?

Oratorios are religious (bible) stories that are performed by singers. Theyhave a plot and characters, but are not performed in theatres withcostumes, etc. Usually they are performed in a concert hall.

2. What features do operas and oratorios have in common?

They are both performed by singers; they both haverecitatives, ariasandchoruses; they are both accompanied by orchestras. However, operas areacted out with costume and theatrical props, etc. Oratorios are not actedout.

3. Why did Handel turn to the oratorio when he had previously composedmany Italian style operas?

Italian operas werent popular with audiences in London anymore and

audiences seemed to prefer religious (or sacred) stories set to music. Thechurch forbade bible stories to be performed in theatres with dramaticaction, so Handel decided to produce oratorios for concert performance.

4. What instruments accompany the singers in Messiah?

An orchestra comprising strings, basso continuo, trumpets and timpani(Handel later added parts for oboes and bassoons that simply double the

string/vocal parts).

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Key musical features Written for SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass).

4 distinctive musical ideas (contrasting).

Joyful words, therefore music has joyful moodor affection.

Triple metre (3/4).

Allegrotempo.

A major (Handel deliberately avoids minor

keys in this movement). Modulates to E major (dominant) & B major

(dominant of the dominant).

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Key musical ideas Idea 1: And the Glory of the Lord

i) First 3 notes outline triad of A major;

ii) Scalic ending (ascending);

iii) Syllabic (one note per syllable).

Idea 2: Shall be revealed

i) x2 1-bar descending sequences;

ii) Melismatic (several notes to a syllable).

Idea 3: And all flesh shall see it together

i) Repetitive (x3 statements of descending 4thidea);

ii) Reinforces the words strongly. Idea 4: For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it

i) Long, repeated notes (dotted minims);

ii) Sung by both tenors & basses to emphasise words (doubled).

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Main choral styles used

1. Single-line writing (monophonic)

2. Four-part choir (homophonic)

3. Simple imitation

4. Two ideas together

5. Doubled parts

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Glossary Cadence2 chords at the end of a musical phrase (4 types).

Harmonic rhythmnumber of times the chord changes perbar.

Hemiolain 3 time, when notes are heard in 2-beat groupings,creating the feeling of 2 time temporarily.

Homophonic texturequite thick, usually melody +chords/simple accompaniment.

Imitativewhen parts copy/imitate each other.

Modulationchange of key.

Monophonic texturethin texture, 1 layer, usually a melody on

its own.

Pedal notea low sustained note.

Perfect cadencechord V followed by chord I.

Plagal cadencechord IV followed by chord I.

Tonicthe first degree of the scale (in C major, C is the tonic).

Vbdominant chord (built on 5thdegree of scale) in 1st

inversion.

V7cdominant chord with an added 7thnote in second

inversion.