Handel

Question 1

Rhythm

Answer 1

The time signature is ¾ (simple triple time)
Allegro tempo (fast – sounding like one in a bar rather than 3)
Hemiola rhythms at bars 9-10
Strong dotted rhythms used in idea 4 emphasise the seriousness of the words

Question 2

Tonality

Answer 2

Key is A major with modulations to the dominant (E major)
Begins in A major
Modulates to E major in bar 22
Back to A major at bar 43
Back to E major in bar 94
Back to A major in bar 102
Minor keys are avoided because of the joyful mood

Question 3

Instrumentation

Answer 3

Baroque orchestra (mainly dominated by string instruments- violin, viola, cello) and a large choir consisting of Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses

Question 4

Genre

Answer 4

Chorus from a Baroque Oratorio

One mood or ‘affectation’ prevails – joy, glorification, praise- sacred work

Question 5

Harmony

Answer 5

Frequent cadences – mostly perfect but also imperfect and plagal
The harmonic rhythm is mostly either one chord per bar or 2+1. There are occasionally 3 chords per bar
Suspensions are heard at bars 9-10
Use of a dominant pedal in bars 118 - 119

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

Instruments of the orchestra double the voice parts throughout the extract
Variety of textures heard throughout the extract including monophonic, homophonic and polyphonic
The bass often has the melody in homophonic sections
Imitation is used e.g. imitative entries of idea 2 begin at bar 17
From bar 22 ideas 1 and 2 are combined to create a 2 part polyphonic texture

Question 7

Structure

Answer 7

This is a chorus from an oratorio
Oratorios are made up of recitative, aria and chorus
This chorus is built upon 4 main musical ideas – they appear in order and are all brought together towards the end (from bar 83)

Question 8

Melody

Answer 8

4 main melodic ideas each relating to a line of the text
Idea 1: ‘And the Glory, the Glory of the Lord’ – mainly syllabic, 1st 3 notes outline a triad, stepwise scale ending
Idea 2: ‘Shall be revealed’ – mainly melismatic, uses a descending sequence
Idea 3: ‘And all flesh shall see it together’ – sounds like a firm statement because it’s repetitive
Idea 4: ‘For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it’ – long repeated notes