1. Handel – And the Glory of the Lord (Messiah)

2. Write 4 comments on the Texture

3. Write 2 comments about the tempo

4. Write 4 comments about the dynamics

5. Write 4 comments about melody

6. Comment on the instrumentation

7. Comment on the harmony/tonality

8. General background…  Handel was a composer from which era?  When was the ‘Messiah’ written?

9. General background…  What is an oratorio?

10. The essay question - Texture  The texture in most of the piece is? homophonic (all parts moving together)  Some bits are polyphonic (parts weaving in and out of each other)  Handel also uses imitation and canon  The texture for the final cadence is Homophonic

11. The essay question - Tempo  The piece is marked ‘Allegro’ (quick and lively) giving it a joyful mood.  It’s in 3/4 time but in places it feels like it’s in 2/4 because Handel uses hemiolas (a rhythmic device).

12. The essay question - Dynamics  The dynamics are… Terraced  The dynamics get louder when… More voices and instruments are playing  The piece starts… Quietly with an orchestral introduction  The piece ends with… a dramatic rest, followed by a loud cadence

13. The essay question - Melody  There are 4 main melodies in this piece:  ‘And the Glory of the Lord’ (which is syllabic)  ‘Shall be revealed’ (which is melismatic and uses a sequence)  ‘And all Flesh’  ‘for the mouth’ (which is syllabic and is made up of repeated As)

14. The essay question - Instruments  Four voice parts  Soprano  Alto  Tenor  Bass  Baroque orchestra  Violins, violas, cellos, basses, oboes, bassoons, tumpets and timpani.  Basso continuo – chamber organ and cello

15. Essay question - Harmony  Most of this piece is in which key? A Major (which gives it a joyful feel)  It modulates to E Major twice and B Major once (all major keys – joyful)  Handel uses prefect cadences at the end of each section  At the end, Handel uses a plagal cadence