Messiah
George Frederic Handel - "A man of the world....a man of a simple, uncomplicated faith." --The Lives of the Great Composers
At the end of the Renaissance, if we were going to be entertained it would be opera. Handel wrote operas and oratorios. He made money by producing music that the people liked. He composed day and night. He was a businessman. Towards the end of his career, he eventually ended up in England. He was invited to come and work. The royalty really liked him. He was asked to write many, many oratorios. It was easy and cheap to produce rather than an opera.
The libretto came before the music. Handel's inspiration was tonal. Music during the baroque period was something you listened to rather that watched.
"I suggest you close your eyes and just listen." -- William Knapp
- Texture of the music is very baroque.
- Imitation - from a soloist to the violins, oboe to the chorus.
- Hallelujah Chorus - same rhythm but not the same melodic notes. It was all chordal. Handel used major keys and minor keys. (Brightness - major)/(Darkness - minor)
- It was the variety that was not available during the Renaissance.
When it was first done here at Trinity, I said, "This is the way it is suppose to be done. If you close your eyes and listen, you will hear what I have just said."