Class #3 Baroque Music, part 2 –George Frideric Handel 1685-1759.

Class #3

Baroque Music, part 2

– George Frideric Handel• 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

• 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

• Orchestral suites– Water Music– Music for the

Royal Fireworks

HWV numbers

• Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis – (abbreviated as HWV)

• 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

StradivariusGuarneriAmati

The Baroque Orchestra

Violin strings made of gutWoodwinds made of woodvalveless, or “natural”

Horns and trumpets

Timpani

Baroque Keyboard Instruments

• Organ

• Harpsichord

• Clavichord

harpsichord

The Baroque Sonata

• Written for 1–8 instruments

• Most often: two violins and continuo

• Handel Trio sonata

1. Sonata da camera 2. Sonata da chiesa

Baroque Concerto

• Contrast and unity

• Latin concertare (“to contend with”)

• Opposition of different forces

Organ concerto

#1: Solo Concerto

Two Types of Concerto

Two Types of Concerto

• #2: Concerto Grosso

• Harp Concerto

New terms

• Concerto

• Sonata

• Tutti

• 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

• 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.

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

• Language

– Italian vs. English

• Staging

• Subject matter

– Libretto (Librettist)

– Sacred vs. Sacred Text

Baroque Oratorio

• Oratorio– Performed by solo voices

• 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

• Recitative– Text is centered on the plot

– Simple to sing

– No melody or rhythmic complexities

– Chords accompanied on the harpischord

• Aria– Text is about the character’s feelings

– Highly difficult music requires vocal technique

– Memorable tunes

– Full orchestral accompaniment

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.

Messiah: Soprano aria “Rejoice greatly

Melisma

(da capo aria)

Baroque OperaThe New Genre of the Baroque Era

Large-scale musical drama combining

• Singing

• Plot

• Acting

• Scenery

• Costumes

• Instrumental music

Baroque Opera: Semele

Voice assignments

• Soprano

• Mezzo-Soprano – Alto or Contralto

• Tenor

• Baritone

• Bass

Julius Cesare

• Montserrat Caballe– “Vadoro pupille”

Legacy

• Fell out of popularity after his death.

• Original instruments revival (1970s)

• Bel Canto revival (1960s)

• http://gfhandel.org/