1. The Music of George Frederic Handel
Hallelujah!
The Music of George Frederic Handel

8. I. Some Surprising Facts About Handel
A. 1st composer whose music has been performed continuously.
Why?
H. actively tried to write music with wide popular appeal.
B. Some works just rehash earlier compositions.
C. “Borrowed” melodies from other composers

9. D. Musical Values: write music that “sells”; don’t worry about
being original; cover, even steal other people’s work.

10. Music Embeds Cultural Values:
My values?

11. II. Handel’s Biography: An Aural Tour

12. Bach’s Travels
Handel’s Travels
Handel = Cosmopolitan

13. II. Handel’s Biography: An Aural Tour
A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy
1. Born: Halle, 1685
2. 17th, 18th cent. =
development of distinct
national styles
3. German Traits:
Counterpoint, Imitation

14. 4. Dieterich Buxtehude, Organist at Lübeck

15. ?

16. Buxtehude Fugue Theme
Handel Fugue Theme

17. II. Handel’s Biography: An Aural Tour
A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy
B. Italy and the Allure of Opera
(1706) meets Corelli,
A. Scarlatti
2. Tuneful, singable melody:
3. Vocal virtuosity:
4. Forms: recitative and
da capo (ABA) ”exit” aria
e.g. “Rejoice Greatly”

18. II. Handel’s Biography: An Aural Tour
A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy
B. Italy and the Allure of Opera
C. England
French Influences: esp. French Overture (Lully)
operatic curtain raiser in 2 sections
slow or moderate tempo + “pickup note” rhythms
faster section beginning w/ fugue-like imitation
2. The English Choral Tradition

19. G. F. Handel

20. II. Handel’s Biography: An Aural Tour
A. Halle, Hamburg, and Handel’s German Legacy
B. Italy and the Allure of Opera
C. England
1. French Influences
2. The English Choral Tradition
3. From Opera to Oratorio

21. III. Oratorio A. Defined: ≅ “unstaged drama on religious subject”
1. Plot, dialogue, characters, action (like opera)
2. Not Staged
3. Adds Choruses to Recitative and Aria
4. Plots usually Biblical (e.g., “Messiah”)
B. Late Baroque Recitative and Aria
1. Recitativo secco (semplice)
2. Recitativo accompagnato
3. Aria
C. Why Oratorio?
1. No costumes; scenery
2. English = vernacular + no expensive Italian singers
3. Stories familiar (and not morally suspect)

22. IV. Bach vs Handel
Bach = Learned Intellectual, Extraordinary Craftsman
B. Handel = Populist Showman, Dramatist

23. V. Handel, the Dramatist in Action: “The Flocks Shall Leave Their Mountain” from Acis and Galetea
7. The flocks shall leave their mountains,
6. The woods their turtle dove,
7. The nymphs forsake the fountains
6. 'ere I forsake my love.
Techniques: Walking bass,
Imitation
Dialogue
Duet
Love Duet in Counterpoint with Rage Aria
Torture!
Fury!
Rage!
Despair, I cannot bear!

24. VI. (With Thanks to Handel) Three Ways to Think About Music:
A. Abstract Patterns in Sound
B. Offers a Unique Aesthetic Experience
C. Embeds Cultural Values