Chapter 19 German Composers of the Late Baroque

Question 1

Georg Philipp Telemann

Answer 1

1681-1767 stylistic eclecticism. Wrote over 3,000 works including 30 operas, 46 passions, 1000 church cantatas, 100s of overtures, concertos and chamber works. Works for good amateurs or middle level professional players. Simplicity made him popular during his lifetime.

Question 2

Johann Sebastian Bach

Answer 2

1685-1750 during his life he was a renowned organ virtuoso and writer of learned contrapuntal works but most wasn’t published during his lifetime. Did all but opera Mostly composed from organ at first due to the positions he held. HIs appointment as director of the Leipzig collegium musicum in 1729 led him to write concertos and chamber works. When you had a position you had to teach others, compose, perform and much more. He learned to compose by copying and arranging the music of Torelli, Vivaldi and Telemann. With vocal music he did the vocal melody first to the text.

Question 3

Bachs organ music

Answer 3

• based on lutheran services. Chorale setting, toccatas, fantasias, preludes and figures. Prolific imagination, master of counterpoint, virtuosity and extensive use of the pedal. Ex toccata in D minor BWV 565 before 1708 has only one figure but begins and ends with toccata sections and interpolates toccata like figuration within the fugue. Made Vivaldi concertos for organ or harpsichord solo. Helped him learn to clarify harmonic scheme, formal structures based on the ritornello idea ex Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543

Question 4

Bachs harpsichord music

Answer 4

• suites, preludes, fantasias, toccatas, fugues, variations sets. French german and english influence English and french suites. 4 dance movements Well-tempered clavier 1722 and 1740. 24 prelude and fugue pairs. Designed to demonstrate the possibilities of playing in all keys on an instrument tuned in near-equal temperament . Each song had a specific technical task
  Goldberg Variations 1741 all 30 variations use the same bass and harmonic structure of the theme. Last variation is a quodlibet combining 2 popular song melodies in counterpoint above the bass of the theme. His last fugue which was incomplete has four subjects including one spelling of Bachs name through the notation H- B natural

Question 5

Bachs orchestral music-

Answer 5

best know is Brandenburg concertos 1721 all but 1st adopted the italian concerto 3 movement fast slow fast , triadic theme, steady driving rhythm, ritornello forms
Cantatas- lutheran new kind on sacred work. Poetic texts brought home the meaning of the day’s gospel reading (poet Erdmann Neumeister) Between 1723-1729 Bach composed at least 3 possible 4 complete annual cycles of about 60 cantatas each. Ex Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 62 based opening chorus on chorale melody and end with simple 4 part harmony. Solos were like opera arias and recits. Imitative counterpoint old style counterpoint, sacred and secular models, da capo aria

Question 6

Passions

Answer 6

• story of jesus’ crucifixion st johns passion 1724 and st matthews passion 1727 used account from the bible recits, arias, ensembles, choruses , chorales, orchestra
  Mass in B minor only complete setting of the catholic mass ordinary between 1747-49 used many different styles. Parts could be performed separately.

Question 7

George Frideric Handel

Answer 7

1685-1759 moved between german, italian and english speaking cities. 1st composers whose music has never ceased to be performed. For the first time a composer was working for the public not just church, court or a town council. He was adaptable and serve the taste of the public. Still had patrons Ruspoli- wrote latin motets and cantatas. RInaldo was written for the queens theatre in london. Made a lot of money from pension wrote Ode dor queen anne’s bday

Question 8

Operas Handel/ récit

Answer 8

36 years for composing and directing opera. FIrst opera Almira 1705. Arias in italian and recits in german - written in hamburg. Agrippina 1709 venice- supple long breathed, rhythmically varied melodies- learned from scarlatti. German trait- double the vocal line with one or more instruments. Rinaldo was first italian opera composed for london. Royal academy of music- brought in famous singers Senesino, Cuzzoni, Bordoni best operas Giulio Cesare 1724 Rodelinda 1725
Simple recitative accompanied only by a basso continuo, speechlike monologue
Accompanied recitative used orchestra to dramatize tense situations, reinforced emotion of dialogue.
Amount of arias was based on who was most famous- had to show off range

Question 9

Coloratura

Answer 9

Coloratura florid ornamentation songs as well as sustained songs ex Se pieta from Guilio Cesare
Wrote so the plot constantly moves forward v’adoro pupille interwoven with other elements. Aria caesar interjects.

Question 10

English oratorio

Answer 10

• created by handel. Sett dialogue in recit and lyrical verses as arias. Not like italian oratorio. TOok from french classical drama, ancient greek tragedy, german passion and english masques. USED CHORUS - participates in action, narrating and comments. First Esther 1718.
  Saul 1739 blending of styles. Recit into chorus O fatal consequence of rage
  MESSIAH 1741 unfolds as a series of contemplations on the christian idea of redemption texts drawn from the bible
  Borrowed, adapted arranged a lot of other composers music.

Question 11

Handels instrument music

Answer 11

• most popular two suites for orchestra or winds- water music 1717 and music for the royal fireworks 1749