Handel 'And the Glory of the Lord'

Question 1

Rhythm, Metre, Tempo (5)

Answer 1

• 3/4 (dance like)
• hemiola makes it sound 2/4
• allegro
• general pause at end
• last 3 bars adagio

Question 2

Tonality and Harmony (5)

Answer 2

• A maj
• modulates to dom (E maj)
• modulates to supertonic (B maj)
• ends with plagal cadence in A maj
• diatonic harmony

Question 3

Word Setting (2)

Answer 3

• mix of syllabic and melismatic

- repetition diff phrases of text

Question 4

Texture (4)

Answer 4

• alternates: homophonic and contrapuntal
• very short monophonic passage
• imitation
• number of parts varies (varied thickness of texture)

Question 5

Structure (4)

Answer 5

• starts with ritornello (orchestral intro)
• shortened versions of ritornello return
• no set form
• based on diff combos of 4 motifs

Question 6

Instrumentation (5)

Answer 6

• SATB choir
• choir accompanied by strings
• choir accompanied by continuo
• continuo: cello + harpsichord or organ
• orchestra often doubles vocal lines

Question 7

Genre (7)

Answer 7

• Handel, German
• Baroque
• composed 1741
• first performed 1742 Dublin
• comes from oratorio Messiah
• Messiah composed in London
• first chorus, fourth movement of Messiah

Question 8

What is an oratorio?

Answer 8

large scale music setting of a biblical text

Question 9

Features of Baroque (4)

Answer 9

• ornamentation
• sudden dynamic changes
• orchestras made up largely of strings
• complex contrapuntal writing

Question 10

How originally performed

Answer 10

• concert halls and theatres

- by small choir or orchestra

Question 11

How now performed

Answer 11

• also heard in a church

- performed by larger forces

Question 12

4 main motifs

Answer 12

• 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
• heard in diff parts and combined in diff ways
• often bass has melody during chordal homophonic sections

Question 13

Melody of ‘and the glory, the glory of the lord’ (5)

Answer 13

• first sung by altos
• mf but forte chordal response from s,t,b,
• stepwise scale ending
• first 3 notes outline a maj triad
• mainly syllabic

Question 14

Melody of ‘shall be revealed’ (4)

Answer 14

• first sung by tenors
• descending sequence
• melisma on revealed
• music sounds octave lower than written

Question 15

Melody of ‘and all flesh shall see it together’ (2)

Answer 15

• first sung by altos

- short descending figure from a to e is repeated twice

Question 16

Melody of ‘for the mouth of the lord hath spoken it’ (4)

Answer 16

• first sung by t and b (strength)
• use of pedal notes
• longer notes
• syllabic