Handel

Question 0

Texture?

Answer 0

Homophonic and polyphonic at points
Overlapping points are imitative
1 - 4 voice parts varies 
The voice textures contrast
Instruments double the voices

Question 1

From?

Written? First performed?

Answer 1

Messiah first section

1741. 1742

Question 2

Melody?

Answer 2

4 melodic ideas
1 And the glory...  3 note outline A major triad! 
2 shall be revealed...  2 bar decending
3 and all flesh...  Repetitive motif
4 for the mouth....  All dotted minim

Question 3

Metre and Rhythm?

Answer 3

3/4 - varied at cadences=hemiola
Dotted rhythms and syncopation
Longer note values used to highlight
Use of rests, dramatic

Question 4

Tonality?

Answer 4

A major
Modulates to key of E major and then B major
Ends in A major

Question 5

Structure?

Answer 5

Intro is a ritornello, it returns several times

No one section repeats

Question 6

Timbre?

Answer 6

Violin 1, 2, viola, cello, double bass, harpsichord
Short sections only accompanied only by only cello and harpsichord
Double bass same as cello but sound an octave lower
4 voice parts (SATB)

Question 7

Harmony?

Answer 7

Diatonic
Chords mostly use root positions
Number of chords in a bar changed quickly
Dissonance are created by tied notes
Most cadences are perfect, plagal at the end creates a amen sound

Question 8

Musical devices?

Answer 8

Sequences, same tunes repeated at different pitches

Melisma, several notes on one vowel

Question 9

Word setting?

Answer 9

Syllabic, one note per syllable

Melismatic