1. The Oratorio
Part 4, Section /9/17

2. Oratorio
Large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists & orchestra
Set to a narrative text, but has no acting, scenery or costumes
Often based on Biblical stories, but are not intended for religious services
Includes succession of choruses, arias, duets, recitatives, & orchestral interludes
Longer than cantatas & have more of a storyline

3. George Frideric Handel
Part 4, Section 16

4. Handel’s Life Born in Germany (1685 - 1759)
Master of Italian opera & English oratorio
Studied law for 1 year, but left to compose
Went to Italy & wrote operas for 3 years to establish career
Moved to England & stayed there until death
Italian opera in London was exotic & exciting for aristocracy
Opera companies went bankrupt so he produced operas on his own & also his own oratorios later
Operas were prohibited during Lent so Handel offered oratorios
Stopped writing operas entirely & only wrote oratorios in 1741 (year he composed Messiah)
Some people scandalized that Biblical words were sung in public theater

5. Handel’s Music
Wrote instrumental music too, but most of his output was Italian opera & English oratorios
Italian Operas
39 operas - based on Greek/Roman history or mythology
Written to display the virtuosity of singers (some crastrati)
English Oratorios
Usually based on Old Testament stories from the Bible
NOT church music
Chorus has the focus in oratorios

6. Handel Rejoice, greatly O daughter of Zion Hallelujah Chorus
Lasts about 2.5 hours
Was first opposed in London because Biblical text in theater
Meditative rather than dramatic (unlike others)
Instrumentation: Chorus & orchestra
Form: Oratorio (w/ over 50 movements!)
Messiah
Handel
Rejoice, greatly O daughter of Zion
Hallelujah Chorus