AOS 1: Baroque Music and Handel - And the Glory of The Lord Flashcards
What are the key features of baroque music?
7
Simple, mainly diatonic harmonies (of a scale)
Movements that usually keep to the same mood throughout
Terraced dynamics - changes in volume are sudden rather than gradual
Ornamentation - melodies are often highly decorated
Complex contrapuntal writing in some pieces (music with 2 melody lines at some places)
The use of continuo - a group of instruments that provides a bass line and harmonic accompaniment. Usually consists of a keyboard instrument (organ or harpsichord), with one or more bass instruments e.g. Cello or double bass.
When was the baroque period?
1600 - 1750
Baroque was used to describe extravagant things and baroque music was very decorative.
Who were the 4 important baroque composers?
Bach
Handel
Vivaldi
Purcell
Performing forces of And the Glory of The Lord
The choir consists of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses
They are accompanied by strings and continuo (for cello and organ or harpsichord)
The orchestra often doubles vocal lines
Context of And the Glory of The Lord
It’s from the oratorio - Messiah (an oratorio being a biblical piece)
It was composed in 1741
It was originally performed in concert halls and theatres but may now be heard in churches.
Was performed by a small choir and orchestra
And the glory of The Lord is the first chorus of the messiah.
Revolves around Christianity (it’s sacred)
First chorus from the oratorio ‘the Messiah’
It was first performed in Dublin
Structure of And the Glory of The Lord
The work starts with an orchestral intro, called a ritornello. Shortened versions of this music returns later in 2 other places.
There is no set form of the movement. It is based on different combinations of the 4 motifs.
What are the four motifs of And the Glory of The Lord
And the glory the glory of The Lord
Shall be revealed
And all flesh shall see it together
For the mouth of The Lord hath spoken it
Rhythm, metre and tempo of And the Glory of The Lord
The piece is in 3/4
It maintains a fast tempo (allegro) almost until the end, where there is a bar of total silence ( known as a general pause), and then 3 bars in slow (adagio) for a drawn out ending.
Use of hemiolas which makes the piece feel it’s it 2/4 rather than 3/4.
Tonality and harmony of And the Glory of The Lord
The piece is in A major. It modulates to two related keys: the dominant (E major) and the supertonic (B major).
The work ends with a plagal cadence in A major.
The harmony is diatonic.
Texture of And the Glory of The Lord
The piece alternates between homophonic and contrapuntal passages e.g. The first passage sung by the choir is homophonic, followed by a contrapuntal section introducing the phrase “shall be revealed”.
Short monophonic passage
Imitation is used by basses and sopranos.
Word setting of And the Glory of The Lord
A mixture of syllabic and melismatic.
Repetitive
Melody of And the Glory of The Lord
Played by orchestra in the ritornello (short intro) and sung by a SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) choir.
It consists of 4 main motifs:
And the glory the glory of the lord (ascending/syllabic),
Shall be revealed (descending/melismatic),
And all flesh shall see it together (repetitive/melismatic/descending),
For the mouth of the lord hath spoken it (syllabic/pedal note).
The organ and cello play the continuo.
Dynamics of And the Glory of The Lord
Uses terrace dynamics meaning the music is only loud when more people play and quieter with less.
Crescendo and diminuendo throughout the piece.
Instrumentation of And the Glory of The Lord
SATB choir.
Strings – violin (and viola) – doubles melody line.
Cello & organ creates a continuo.
Orchestra often doubles vocal lines.
