Baroque II 1600-1750

Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750 Worked as court composer and organist for most of his life One of the most famous and prolific figures of the era Master of the Fugue

“Most contemporary music is about love between two people “Most contemporary music is about love between two people. What makes Bach's music particularly striking is that it's about the love of God. ….what I appreciate in Bach is his ability to suggest to me what a belief in God feels like. His music seems to me to be about devotion to a perfect ideal - something purer, better, higher ...” Alain de Botton Philosopher I am not a deeply musical person - I don't play and have only the vaguest grasp of musical structures - so this cannot be intellectual, or mathematical, which is what people say Bach is all about. I find him calming, hypnotic, meditative, inspiring and, above all, consoling. I listen to a wide variety of music, from Beck to Bax, but there's a bigness, an optimistic complexity and relish about Bach that makes me return to him in all moods, without ever getting bored. That's about all I can say.” Andrew Marr Broadcaster

Bach’s Music Wrote in every baroque form except opera Technical mastery and emotional depth Combined polyphonic texture with rich harmony Foundation for all of our harmony Often religious in nature- S.D.G.

The Fugue The fugue was a cornerstone of Baroque music. Polyphonic composition based on one main theme, called a subject.

Beginning of a fugue can be diagrammed like this: Listen to a fugue by following the familiar subject through all the levels of texture. Beginning of a fugue can be diagrammed like this: After a voice finishes presenting the subject, it is free to do its own thing. Subject----------------------------..... Etc Subject--------------------------------.... Etc Subject--------------------------------------.... Etc Subject-----------------------------------------... Etc.

Bach: Organ Fugue in G Minor “Little Fugue” One of Bach’s most well-known pieces The subject is presented by four “voices” in succession, from highest to lowest.

Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C Minor from The Well Tempered Clavier Bach wrote preludes and fugues in all 24 keys (12 major, 12 minor) They are pieces written for students to play and practice

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: III. Allegro Violin, flute, oboe, and trumpet with basso continuo VIRTUOSO music- only for the VERY talented and professional musicians “daring combinations” of instruments!

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050 1. Allegro 2. Affettuoso 3. Allegro -Shows off the harpsichord. www.youtu.be/BnjqGhAlFzs

Bach: B Minor Mass The B Minor Mass is widely regarded as Bach’s masterpiece. Each part of the Mass text has its own contrasting movements Listening: Crucifixus and Et Resurrexit from Bach’s B Minor Mass

Church Music in the Baroque Era Chorale- hymn tune set to a german religious text Chorale prelude- short composition based on the hymn tune that reminded the congregation of the melody.

The Church Cantata Cantata- a sacred work for chorus and orchestra The cantata was the primary means of musical expression in church. Closely resembled opera, and would include aria, recitative, and duet movements.

Bach: Cantata No. 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Based on a hymn tune Each movement uses the hymn tune in different ways

George Frideric Handel 1685-1759 Master of the Oratorio Prodigy, who at age 11 was composing and giving organ lessons Worked as composer and performer Moved to London later in his life to compose some of his greatest works

Handel’s Music Wrote in many forms, but most of his work was Italian operas and English oratorios. Oratorios are usually based on Biblical stories Most are Old Testament stories Most famous, however, is the Messiah

Opera vs. Oratorio Opera Oratorio For chorus and orchestra Costumes, sets and scenery Based on mythology (secular) Act out a story- characters and plot are revealed through song Usually in Italian For chorus and orchestra No costumes, sets, or scenery Based on Biblical stories (sacred) Tells a story through music In any language!

Handel: The Messiah Oratorio- NOT Opera!! (What's the difference?) Messiah lasts about 2 ½ hours and was written in just 24 days Based on Biblical text about the Messiah Part 1: Prophecy about the Messiah, Christ’s birth, and Christ’s deeds on earth Part 2: Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension to heaven, and spreading of the Gospel Part 3: Prophecy about resurrection of the dead, judgment, and heaven. Daily Listening Examples: Sinfonia for Strings and Basso Continuo (French Overture) Comfort Ye, My People (Recitative) Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted (Aria) Thus Saith the LORD (Recitative) Hallelujah (Chorus)

Messiah Part 1: Comfort ye my People (Aria) Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:1-3) Daily Listening Questions: 1) Describe the music… use adjectives to describe the mood, style, emotion, etc.

Messiah Part 1: Ev’ry valley shall be exalted Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40:4) 2) Stylistically, what is the main difference between this piece and the previous one?

Messiah Part 1: Thus Saith the Lord (Recitative) Haggai 2:6,7 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come. Malachi 3:1 The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts. 3) Is this piece more like Comfort Ye, or Every Valley?

Messiah Part 2: Hallelujah (Chorus) The job of the “Chorus” in an Oratorio or Opera is to comment on the action or storyline. This is the most famous Chorus from Messiah. 3) What instruments do you see and hear during this performance? 4) Describe the mood, style, sound, emotion, etc of this piece. How does Handel’s choice of instrumentation add to this effect? 5) How does this Oratorio reflect what you know about Baroque music? Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world Is become the kingdom of our Lord, And of His Christ, and of His Christ; And He shall reign for ever and ever, For ever and ever, forever and ever, King of kings, and Lord of lords, King of kings, and Lord of lords, And Lord of lords, And He shall reign, And He shall reign forever and ever, King of kings, forever and ever, And Lord of lords, Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Handel: Water Music: Hornpipe No. 12 in D Written for an outdoor concert on the river Thames. 3 suites, made up of overtures, minuets, bourrees, and hornpipes.

Handel:Music for the Royal Fireworks: III. Rejouissance Some of the first music ever composed for just brass (beginnings of band) Written for an open-air performance complete with fireworks London's first recorded traffic jam- 12,000 people attended!

Listening Exercise On a separate sheet of paper, identify the composer of the following pieces as either Bach or Handel and then choose the correct name of each piece.

1) Hornpipe from Water Music Little Fugue in G Minor The Messiah B Minor Mass

2) B Minor Mass The Messiah Little Fugue in G Minor Brandenburg Concerto No. 2

3) The Messiah Little Fugue in G Minor Chorale prelude: Wachet Auf, Ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645 Hornpipe from Water Music

4) La Rejoissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks Fugue in A Minor BWV 543 B Minor Mass Prelude in C Major from the “Well Tempered Clavier”

5) La Rejoissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks B Minor Mass Excerpt from Saul Prelude in C Major from the “Well Tempered Clavier”

6) Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 Excerpt from The Messiah Chorale Prelude: Wachet Auf, Ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645 Little Fugue in G Minor

7) Excerpt from the B Minor Mass Excerpt from Saul Hornpipe from Water Music Prelude in C from the “Well Tempered Clavier”

8) A) Chorale Prelude: Wachet Auf, Ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645 B) La Rejoissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks C) Little Fugue in G Minor D) Excerpt from The Messiah

9) Little Fugue in G Minor B Minor Mass Excerpt from Saul Hornpipe from Water Music

10) Little Fugue in G Minor La Rejoissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks Prelude in C Major from the “Well Tempered Clavier” B Minor Mass