Handel – And the Glory of the Lord (Messiah)

Write 4 comments on the Texture

Write 2 comments about the tempo

Write 4 comments about the dynamics

Write 4 comments about melody

Comment on the instrumentation

Comment on the harmony/tonality

General background…

Handel was a composer from which era?

When was the ‘Messiah’ written?

General background…

What is an oratorio?

The essay question - Texture The texture in most of the piece is?

homophonic

(all parts moving together)

Some bits are

polyphonic (parts weaving in and out of each other)

Handel also uses

imitation and canon

The texture for the final cadence is

Homophonic

The essay question - Tempo

The piece is marked

‘Allegro’ (quick and lively) giving it a joyful mood.

It’s in

3/4 time but in places it feels like it’s in 2/4 because Handel uses hemiolas (a rhythmic device).

The essay question - Dynamics

The dynamics are…

Terraced

The dynamics get louder when…

More voices and instruments are playing

The piece starts…

Quietly with an orchestral introduction

The piece ends with…

a dramatic rest, followed by a loud cadence

The essay question - Melody

There are 4 main melodies in this piece: ‘And the Glory of the Lord’

(which is syllabic)

‘Shall be revealed’(which is melismatic and uses a sequence)

‘And all Flesh’ ‘for the mouth’

(which is syllabic and is made up of repeated As)

The essay question - Instruments

Four voice parts Soprano Alto Tenor Bass

Baroque orchestra Violins, violas, cellos, basses, oboes, bassoons, tumpets

and timpani.

Basso continuo – chamber organ and cello

Essay question - Harmony

Most of this piece is in which key?

A Major (which gives it a joyful feel)

It modulates to

E Major twice and B Major once (all major keys – joyful)

Handel uses prefect cadences at the end of each section

At the end, Handel uses a

plagal cadence