Transcript Handelx - HCC Learning Web

George Frideric Handel
1685-1759
Life
• German-British Baroque composer, famous for
his operas, oratorios, and concertos.
• Handel was born in Germany in the same year
as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico
Scarlatti.
• He was strongly influenced by the great
composers of the Italian Baroque and the
middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.
Early Years
• At an early age Handel became a skillful
performer on the harpsichord and organ.
• In 1702, following his father's wishes, Handel
started studying law at the University of
Halle;and also earned an appointment as the
organist at the local Protestant cathedral.
• After a year Handel seems to have been
unsatisfied and in 1703, he accepted a
position as violinist and harpsichordist in the
orchestra of the Hamburg opera house.
• His first two operas, Almira and Nero, were
produced in 1705. He produced two other
operas, Daphne and Florindo, in 1708.
• In 1706 Handel traveled to Italy for three
years.
– Composed a lot of Italian operas.
• Returning to Germany in 1710, Handel
became Kapellmeister to German prince
George, Elector of Hanover, who in 1714
would become King George I of Great Britain.
Move to London
• Was asked for a leave to go to London after a month
• With his opera Rinaldo, based on La Gerusalemme
Liberata by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso, Handel
enjoyed great success, "but it is difficult to see why he
lifted from old Italian works unless he was in a hurry”.
This work contains one of Handel's favorite arias, Cara
sposa, amante cara.
– A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that
of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced
either by castration of the singer before puberty or one
who, because of an endocrinological condition, never
reaches sexual maturity.
• In 1712, Handel decided to settle permanently in
England.
• The conception of an opera as a coherent
structure was slow to capture Handel's
imagination and he renounced it for five
years.
• In July 1717 Handel's Water Music was
performed more than three times on the
Thames for the King and his guests
– The Water Music is a collection of orchestral
movements, often considered three suites
– All the instruments in the Baroque orchestra were
included in the composition, except the
harpsichord and timpani, which would have been
inconvenient to bring onto the barge.
Oratorio
• Italian Opera vs. english audience
• Usually based on stories from the Old Testament and have titles like
Israel in Egypt, Joshua. Composed to entertain paying audiences in
public theaters.
• Messiah (1741)
– Lasts about 21/2 hours
– In three parts
– the libretto covers the prophecies concerning the coming of Christ, the
birth, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and
finally the End Times with the Christ's final victory over death and sin.
– Although the work was conceived for secular theatre and first
performed during Lent, it has become common practice since Handel's
death to perform Messiah during Advent, the preparatory period of
the Christmas season, rather than in Lent or at Easter. Messiah is often
performed in churches as well as in concert halls.
Later Years
• In 1749 Handel composed Music for the Royal
Fireworks; 12,000 people attended the first
performance.
– a wind band suite composed under contract of
George II of Great Britain for the fireworks in
London's Green Park on 27 April 1749. It was to
celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian
Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-laChapelle in 1748.
Works
• Handel's compositions include 42 operas, 29
oratorios, more than 120 cantatas, trios and
duets, numerous arias, chamber music, a large
number of ecumenical pieces, odes and
serenatas, and 16 organ concerti.
• Handel introduced previously uncommon musical
instruments in his works: the viola d'amore and
violetta marina (Orlando), the lute (Ode for St.
Cecilia's Day), three trombones (Saul), clarinets or
small high cornets (Tamerlano), theorbo, horn
(Water Music), lyrichord, double bassoon, viola da
gamba, bell chimes, positive organ, and harp
(Giulio Cesare, Alexander's Feast).