1. Music Appreciation (MUSI 115) Class #4
Baroque Music, conclusion
George Frideric Handel

2. 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."

3. George Frideric Handel
German-born composer of Italian, French, and German styles catering to English audiences
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
German-born composer of Italian, French, and German styles catering to English audiences
Vocal music:
Composed opera seria (Italian serious opera) and oratorio (music drama based on a religious subject)
Representative opera seria: Julius Caesar

4. George Frideric Handel
Studied in Italy
International career
Impresario and theater owner
Made and lost a fortune
Founded the London and the Royal Academy of Music
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
Born in Germany
Studied and composed in Italy
Success brought him to London
Royal Academy of Music
Prolific composer of Italian opera seria
Julius Caesar
After opera seria fell out of vogue, composed oratorios
Israel in Egypt, Messiah, Judas Maccabaeus, Jephtha

5. Halle, (West) Germany

6. Handel’s Vocal Music 42 operas* 29 oratorios* 129 cantatas*
Expanded dramatic intensity of the chorus*
Handel’s Music
Tended toward diatonic harmonies
Tone color used for atmosphere and expression
Wrote more than 40 operas
Expanded the role of the chorus

7. Handel’s Instrumental Music
Prolific composer of instrumental music
Orchestral suites
Water Music
Music for the Royal Fireworks
Prolific composer of instrumental music:
Orchestral suites
Water Music
Music for the Royal Fireworks

8. HWV numbers Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis (abbreviated as HWV) London Home
Catalogue of Handel's Works
London Home

9. Handel’s Instrumental Music

10. Baroque Instruments Instrument designs were improved
Finest violins in history came from shops of
Stradivarius
Guarneri
Amati
Baroque Instruments
Instrument designs were improved
Finest violins in history came from shops of:
Stradivarius
Guarneri
Amati

11. The Baroque Orchestra Violin strings made of gut
Woodwinds made of wood
valveless, or “natural”
Horns and trumpets
Timpani
The Baroque Orchestra
Baroque violin strings made of gut (today’s are of steel)
Woodwinds were all made of wood
Trumpet moves from purely military use to orchestral member
Horns and trumpets were valveless, called “natural” instruments
Could play in only one key at a time
Timpani occasionally added to the orchestra

12. Baroque Keyboard Instruments
Organ
Harpsichord
Clavichord
Baroque Keyboard instruments
Organ: used at church and home
Harpsichord: strings are plucked by quills, cannot sustain tones
Clavichord: metal levers exert pressure on strings
harpsichord

13. 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*
Sonata Types
The sonata was the most popular form of chamber music
Early sonatas: one sectional movement or several contrasting movements
Sonata da camera: chamber sonata, typically a group of stylized dances
Sonata da chiesa: church sonata, more serious and contrapuntal, four movements, tempo sequence slow-fast-slow-fast
Written for 1–8 instruments
Favored combination: two violins and continuo
Trio sonata
Trio sonata: sonata printed on three staves of music, actually performed by four players (continuo requires two players)

14. Baroque Concerto* Contrast and unity
Latin concertare (“to contend with”)
Opposition of different forces
Baroque Concerto
Basic elements of Baroque: contrast and unity
Concerto: from the Latin concertare (“to contend with”)
Instrumental form based on the opposition of different forces

15. Two Types of Concerto Organ concerto #1: Solo Concerto*
Solo concerto: one instrument set against the orchestra
Concerto grosso: small group of soloists set against orchestra
Concertino: small group in the concerto grosso
Ripieno, or tutti: large group in the concerto grosso

16. Two Types of Concerto
#2: Concerto Grosso*
Harp Concerto

17. Two orchestral suites* by Handel
Water Music* 1717
Music for the Royal Fireworks* 1749
Handel and the Orchestral Suite
Two notable suites by Handel
Water Music
Music for the Royal Fireworks

18. Water Music*, Suite in D major, II
Royal party on the Thames River in London, July 17, 1717
22 separate stand-alone pieces
Hornpipe
Water Music, Suite in D major, I and II (Listening Guide)
Royal party on the Thames River in London, July 17, 1717
22 numbers
Performed without continuo (no harpsichord on a boat)
Divided into three suites

19. 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.

21. Royal Fireworks Music* 1749
Golden Jubilee in 2002

22. Two types of vocal music…
Oratorio*
Opera*

23. Oratorio* and Opera* Similarities
Overture*
Aria*
Da capo al Fine*
Recitative*
Ensemble numbers:
Duet*, (Trio*, Quartet*, etc.)
Chorus*
The Components of Opera
Recitative: musical declamation, plot is advanced
Secco: accompanied only by continuo instruments
Accompagnato: accompanied by the orchestra
Aria: a song, usually highly emotional, stands out from recitative
Da capo aria: a ternary (A-B-A) song form
Ensemble numbers: characters join together in song
Duet: two voices
Trio: three voices
Quartet, etc.: four voices, and so on
Chorus: used to back up solo voices, or functions independently
Overture: instrumental number begins the opera
Sinfonias: instrumental interludes between acts and scenes
Libretto: the text of the work
Librettist: the person who writes the text

24. Oratorio and Opera Differences
Language
Italian vs. English
Staging
Subject matter
Libretto (Librettist)
Sacred vs. Sacred Text

25. Baroque Oratorio* Oratorio Performed by solo voices
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass (or, Baritone)
large chorus (SATB)
orchestra
no staging or costumes
24. Handel and the Oratorio
The Oratorio
Oratorio: large-scale dramatic genre with religious or Biblical text
Performed by solo voices, chorus, orchestra
No staging or costumes

26. Handel: Messiah* Premiered in Dublin in 1742 Written in 24 days
Libretto*: in three separate parts
Compilation of Old and New Testament text
Handel: Messiah, Nos. 18, 44 (Listening Guide)
Premiered in Dublin in 1742
Written in 24 days
Libretto: compilation of Old and New Testament

27. Aria vs. Recitative Recitative* Aria* 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

28. 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.

29. Messiah: Soprano aria “Rejoice greatly
(da capo aria)
Three-part form:
I: Christmas
Recitative: both secco and accompagnato
Soprano aria “Rejoice greatly” (da capo aria)
Melisma

30. Baroque Opera* The New Genre of the Baroque Era
Large-scale musical drama combining
Singing
Plot (Secular)
Acting
Scenery
Costumes
Instrumental music
21. Baroque Opera
Opera: a large scale music drama combining poetry, acting, scenery, costumes, singing, and instrumental music

31. Baroque Opera: Semele

32. Voice assignments* Soprano Alto Tenor Baritone/Bass
Mezzo-Soprano or Contralto
Replacing castrati
Tenor
Baritone/Bass

33. Julius Cesare (1724)
Montserrat Caballe
“Vadoro pupille”

34. Legacy Fell out of popularity after his death
Original instruments revival (1970s)
Bel Canto revival (1960s)

35. CD #1, Track “Hallelujah” Chorus from Messiah (HWV 56)
Listen for…
Enormous, vertical columns of sound;
SATB voicing
Full orchestral sound
Minimal contrapuntal motion

36. 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…”

37. Contrapuntal Devices MELODY MELODY MELODY MELODY MELODY MELODY
Original:
Inversion:
Retrograde:
Retrograde inversion:
Augmentation:
Diminution:
MELODY
MELODY
MELODY
MELODY
MELODY
MELODY