Handel: And the Glory of the Lord

Question 1

What is this piece from?

Answer 1

The Messiah

Question 2

When was Handel born?

Answer 2

1685

Question 3

Other Baroque Composers

Answer 3

• Vivaldi
• Bach
• Telemann

Question 4

When was this piece written?

Answer 4

1741

Question 5

Which part is ‘And the Glory of the Lord’

Answer 5

The first chorus of the messiah.

Question 6

What are the features of Baroque music.

Answer 6

• Terraced dyamics (contrast of soft and loud dynamics).
• Contrapuntal writing.
• Use of basso continuo.
• Diatonic Chords
• Prevelence of one affection.
• Ornamented melodic parts.
• Use of Baroque Orchestra

Question 7

The opening of the piece is an orchestral introduction. What is this called a

Answer 7

Ritornello

Question 8

What is this the structure of this piece?

Answer 8

The compositon is based on different combinations of the four motifs.

Question 9

Overall structure

Answer 9

• Starts with an instrumental introduction that is then used again several times to break up the singing throughout the piece this section is called a ritornello.
• 4 main musical ideas, one for each line of text
• Each line of text is introduced simply, often only in one part, and then the other parts join in, overlapping and often imitiating each other.
• Ends with a slow adagio section, there is a plagal cadence (chords IV – I).

Question 10

What key does the piece begin and end in?

Answer 10

A major

Question 11

Describe the harmony

Answer 11

Diatonic harmony

Question 12

What does is the effect of the major keys?

Answer 12

They create a joyous affection.

Question 13

What is the purpose of the orchestra?

Answer 13

To accompany and double up the orchestra.

Question 14

What type of cadence does the piece finish with?

Answer 14

Plagal cadence

Question 15

What other keys does the piece modulate to.

Answer 15

The dominant E Major

The dominant of the dominant B Major

Question 16

When are peddle notes used?

Answer 16

When the choir sings “For the lord hath spoken it”

Question 17

What words describe the word setting?

Answer 17

A mixture of syllabic and melismatic ‘revealed’

Question 18

Describe the melody

Answer 18

Diatonic based on the four main melodies and there is lots of imitation in the vocal parts – when one or more parts copies an idea first heard in another part.

Question 19

How many parts are in the choir and what are they?

Answer 19

4 part choir Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass

Question 20

What instruments are in this piece?

Answer 20

Strings (1st and 2nd Violins, Viola, Cello) with a basso continuo played by the organ, cello and bass.

Question 21

Which cadences are mainly used?

Answer 21

Perfect cadences

Question 22

What is the tempo?

Answer 22

Allegro (fast) The last 3 bars are Adagio (slow)

Question 23

What rhythmn does keeps the piece moving?

Answer 23

Almost continuous crotchet movement keeps the piece moving forward until the final bars where there are sustained chords.

Question 24

What is the metre?

Answer 24

3/4

Question 25

Handel uses hemiolas. What is a hemiola?

Answer 25

Music that is in triple time (3/4) that sounds like it is in duple time (2/4) for two bars – it is very common in baroque music at cadences.

Question 26

A variety of textures are used. What are they?

Answer 26

• Homophonic: when two or more vocal parts sing in unison or together in harmony.
• Monophonic when only one part is singing at the start of lines.
• Polyphonic/Contrapuntal: different rhythms in the vocal lines that weave in and out of each other

Question 27

Texture of last section

Answer 27

The texture is homophonic with all parts playing/singing to help give a sense of finality.

Question 28

What are the dynamics?

Answer 28

There are hardly any dynamics marked in the score, and those that are marked are only p and f - this is typical of baroque music that rarely has crescendos or diminuendos marked.