Handel

Handel

1. Baroque

   • Period of music - c.1600 - 1750
   • Important composers of the period: Bach, Handel, Purcell and Vivaldi
   • Key features of baroque music
     • Simple, mainly diatonic harmonies
     • Movements that keep the SAME MOOD throughout
     • Changes in volume are SUDDEN rather than gradual
     • Ornamentation
     • Orchestras made up largely of STRING instruments
     • Use of CONTINUO

2. 'And the Glory of the Lord'

   • Comes from the oratorio 'Messiah' (it is the first chorus in the oratorio)
   • Composed in 1741 in London

3. Performing Forces

   • The choir is made up of SOPRANOS, ALTOS, TENORS and BASSES
   • They are accompanied by STRINGS and CONTINUO (for cello and harpsichord or organ)
   • The orchestra often doubles the vocal lines

4. Structure

   • The work starts with an orchestral introduction called a RITORNELLO
   • Shortened versions of this music return later in the work
   • There is no set form to the movement - it is based on different combinations of the four motifs

5. Melody

   • The movement is based on four different motifs
     • MOTIF 1 - First sung by the altos, starts in bar 11, clearly outlines the key of A major
     • MOTIF 2 - First sung by the tenors, starts in bar 17. The motif uses a DESCENDING SEQUENCE and MELISMA
     • MOTIF 3 - First sung by the altos, starts in bar 43.
     • MOTIF 4 - First sung by tenors and basses, starts in bar 51. Most of it stays on the same pitch and uses longer notes
   • These four motifs are heard in different parts and combined in different ways throughout the movement

6. Rhythm, Metre and Tempo

   • The time signature is 3/4 - this is a dance-like metre
   • Tempo - ALLEGRO (fast)
   • There are a number of HEMIOLAS in the piece
   • The 3 bars at the end of the piece are ADAGIO (slower tempo)

7. Tonality and Harmony

   • A major
   • It modulates to two related keys: the dominant (Emajor) and the supertonic (Bmajor)
   • The work ends with a PLAGAL CADENCE in A major
   • The harmony is DIATONIC

8. Texture

   • Most of the piece alternates between HOMOPHONIC and CONTRAPUNTAL
   • Short MONOPHONIC phrase in bars 108-9
   • Frequent use of IMITATION
   • The number of parts varies throughout the piece

9. Word Setting

   • Mixture of SYLLABIC and MELISMATIC
   • Different phrases of text are repeated many times - this makes the words clear