Transcript GEORGE FRIDeRIC HANDEL

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Born in Halle, Germany, Feb 23, 1685
Died in London, England, April 14, 1759
Contributed to every musical genre current in
his time
German composer mostly known by his
orchestral works and oratorios
Born the same year as Johann Bach but they
never met
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Attended University of Halle
Moved to Hamburg
Became a second violinist in and opera house
orchestra
Founded The Royal Academy of Music
Moved to London in 1711 and stayed there the
remainder of his life
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Handel started out writing operas but wasn’t
very successful
Switched from writing operas to writing
oratorios
Most famous oratorio “Messiah”
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The Messiah was written in twenty four days
Split into three parts
Christmas Section
 Easter Section
 Redemption Section
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Features mainly strings and continuo
Hallelujah Chorus is the climax of the Messiah, at
the end of Easter Section
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usfiAsWR4q
U
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Everybody stands during the Hallelujah
Chorus
The first time “The Messiah” was
performed, King George II stood up and
it is now tradition
After first performance, Handel
collapsed and died a few days later
Buried at Westminster Abbey
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Messiah
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Melody
 Long Melismatic Lines
 Lyrical Lines
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Form
 3 part A-B-A
 Instrumental Introduction
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Texture
 Overlapping voices
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Expression
 Varied dynamics for dramatic effect
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Water music is classified as an orchestral
suite
First played on the Thames River in London
on July 17, 1717
Because it was to be first played in an
outdoor performance, Handel was prompted
to create music that had lively rhythms and
catchy melodies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuw8Y
jSbKd4
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Water Music
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Melody
 Ascending line with leaps and trills
 Descending minor-scale melody
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Form
 3-Part (A-B-A)
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Rhythm/Meter
 Triple meter in spritely tempo
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Timbre
 Instrumental groups exchange motivic ideas
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Portrait of George Frideric Handel by Thomas
Hudson (1756)
Private Collection, The Bridgeman Art Library
International
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com
Youtube.com
The Enjoyment of Music (Eleventh Edition) By:
Kristine Forney and Joseph Machlis