Hallelujah!

The Music of George Frederic Handel

I. Handel’s Biography and Its Influence

Bach’s Travels Handel’s Travels

I. Handel’s Cosmopolitan Biography and Its Influence

A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy

2. 17th, 18th cent. = development of distinct national styles

3. German Traits: Counterpoint, Imitation

1. Born: Halle, 1685

4. Dieterich Buxtehude, Organist at Lübeck

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Buxtehude Fugue Theme

Handel Fugue Theme

I. Handel’s Biography and Its Influence

A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy

B. Italy and the Allure of Opera

2. Tuneful, singable melody:

3. Vocal virtuosity:

4.. Forms: recitative and da capo (ABA) aria e.g. “Rejoice Greatly”

1. (1706) meets Corelli, A. Scarlatti

I. Handel’s Biography and Its Influence

A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy

B. Italy and the Allure of Opera

C. England

1. French Influences: esp. French Overture (Lully) operatic curtain raiser in 2 sections

2. The English Choral Tradition

--slow or moderate tempo + “pickup note” rhythms

--faster section beginning w/ fugue-like imitation

G. F. Handel

I. Handel’s Biography and Its Influence

A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy

B. Italy and the Allure of Opera

C. England

1. French Influences

2. The English Choral Tradition

3. From Opera to Oratorio

II. OratorioA. Defined: “unstaged opera on religious subject”

B. Late Baroque Recitative and Aria

1. Recitativo secco (semplice)

2. Recitativo accompagnato

3. Aria

C. The Dramatic “Problem” of Baroque Opera/Oratorio

1. Plot, dialogue, characters, action (like opera)

2. Not Staged3. Adds Choruses to Recitative and Aria4. Plots usually Biblical

III. Bach vs. Handel

A. Bach = Learned Intellectual, extraordinary Craftsman but never wrote opera

B. Handel = Dramatist, Showman

IV. Handel, the Dramatist in Action: “The Flocks Shall Leave Their Mountain”

from Acis and Galetea

7. The flocks shall leave their mountains, 6. The woods their turtle dove, 7. The nymphs forsake the fountains 6. 'ere I forsake my love.

Torture!Fury! Rage! Despair, I cannot bear!

Techniques: Walking bass, Dialogue DuetLove Duet in Counterpoint with Rage Aria