Chapter 11:The Late Baroque: Handel

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

• Career:– Hamburg (1703-1706)– Italy (1706-1710)– Hanover (1710)– London (1710-1759)

• Reputation– Most famous composer in Europe– A national institution in England– Reputation increased after his death– Most famous for choral compositions

Handel and the Orchestral Dance Suite

• Water Music (1717): Part of a program of popular entertainments, including an evening of music on the Thames– Musicians played on a barge next to King George I’s boat– Dance Suite: An instrumental collection of dances, usually

2-7 in number, all in one key • Allemande: German dance; moderate or brisk stately

dance in duple meter• Sarabande: Spanish; slow, sensual dance in triple

meter• Minuet: Moderate, elegant dance in triple meter

– Most in binary (AB) form• Some included a second, complimentary dance called

a trio (CD)

Handel and Opera

• Handel emigrated from Germany to England in 1710 to make money producing Italian opera

• Formed the Royal Academy of Music, an opera company in which he served as composer, producer, and performer– Conducted from the harpsichord in the orchestra pit

• Opera seria: Dominant form of opera during the Baroque– Use of serious historical or mythological subjects– Male role usually sung by a castrato

• Great success from 1710-1728• 1728: Royal Academy of Music went bankrupt• Handel turned to Oratorio

Handel and the Oratorio• Oratorio: A large-scale genre of sacred music involving

an overture, arias, recitatives, and choruses– Performed without costumes or scenery – Divided into acts– Dramatic function of the Chorus

• The Messiah (1741)– Composed in three and a half weeks– First performance in Dublin as part of a charity

benefit– Three Parts:

I. Prophecy and BirthII. Triumph of the GospelIII. Victory over Death

The Messiah • “He shall feed His flock”

– Alludes to the birth of Christ– Pastoral aria: Music suggests the movement of

simple shepherds – Gliding stepwise melody, triple meter, slow

harmonic changes over a drone

The Messiah • “Halleluiah” chorus

– Feeling of triumphant resurrection– Variety of choral styles in quick succession– Masterful use of contrasting textures to create

drama– King George’s (rumored) reaction to the music

Baroque Music Melody Melody is marked by progressive development, growing longer

and more expansive; idiomatic instrumental style influences vocal melodies; melodic sequence becomes prevalent

Harmony Functional chord progressions govern harmonic movement – harmony moves purposefully from one chord to the next; basso continuo continues to provide strong harmonic bases

Rhythm Exciting, driving, energized rhythms propel the music forward with vigor; “walking” bass creates feeling of rhythmic regularity

Color Instruments reign supreme; instrumental sounds, especially of the violin, harpsichord, and organ, set musical tone for the era; one tone color used throughout a movement or large section of a movement

Texture Homophonic texture remains important, but denser, polyphonic texture reemerges in the contrapuntal fugue

Form Binary form in sonatas and orchestral suites; da capo aria (ternary) form in arias; fugal procedure used in fugues; ritornello form in concertos