Handel: 'And the Glory'

Context
1. Period composers: Bach, Handel, Purcell and Vivaldi
2. 1741
3. Small choir and orchestra
4. Concert halls and theatres
5. First chorus in 'Messiah'
6. Oratorio
7. London
Key Features
1. Simple, mainly diatonic melodies
2. Same mood mvt's
3. Terraced dynamics- sudden changes
4. Ornamentation
5. Contrapuntal writing
6. String instruments mainly
7. Continuo
  1. Keyboard
    1. Harpsichord/organ
  2. Bass
    1. Cello/double bass
Performing Forces
1. SATB
2. Strings/continuo
  1. Cello, harpsichord/organ
3. Orchestra doubles vocal lines
Structure
1. Ritornello
  1. Orchestral intro
2. Combination of four different motifs
Melody
1. Four motifs
  1. 1) 'And the glory the glory of the Lord'
    1. A, AM
  2. 2) 'shall be revealed'
    1. T, descending melodic sequence, melisma
  3. 3) 'and all flesh shall see it together'
    1. A, twice repeated short descending figure
  4. 4) 'for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it'
    1. TB, same pitch (A) = solemn
Rhythm, Metre and Tempo
1. 3/4
2. Fast (Allegro)
  1. Then general pause
    1. Then slow Adagio
      1. Drawn-out ending
3. Hemiolas
  1. Feels like 2/4 not 3/4
Tonality and Harmony
1. AM
  1. Modulations: Dominant (EM) and Supertonic (BM)
2. Plagal cadence
3. Diatonic harmony
Texture
1. Homophonic and Contrapuntal/counterpoint
2. One moment of Monophony
3. Imitation
  1. Overlapping by a copy of the same melody (maybe at different pitch)
4. Varying number of parts singing/playing
Word Setting
1. Melismatic and syllabic
  1. Motif 4) Syllabic
  2. Motif 2) Melismatic
2. Different phrases are repeated many times
  1. Words= v clear

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Handel: 'And the Glory'

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	Created by EdW over 9 years ago