Handel Messiah

Written: 1741

Based on four main ideas:

The prophecy of Jesus' birth

His persucution

His crucifixtion

And finally his resurection

Key: A major

Modulates to E major

Uses perfect cadence to switch key - the end of the introduction also uses perfect cadence.

The piece ends in Plagal Cadence for a grander finish ('Amen')

Harmony is Diatonic

No dissonace - no lack of harmony

In simple triple time ¾ although though it feels like ¼

Allegro – Fast and Joyful

Last four bars are Adagio – slightly slower than Allegro. This was to give the piece a grander ending.

An oratorio – Religious Opera

4 motifs base around the lyrics–

 1“And the glory of the Lord”
 2“Shall be revealed”
 3“All flesh shall see together”
 4“For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it”

Parts are played in p – piano (softly,quiet)
Other forte – f (loud)

Terraced dynamics – instruments going loud and quiet at different parts and times.

Like melody, rhythm for each motif is different.

Motif 1: Simple rhythm, dotted crotchet quaver rhythm in 2nd bar

Motif 2: Dotted rhythm

Motif 3: repeated crotchet, quaver, quaver, crotchet pattern

Motif 4: long dotted crotchets, this expresses the seriousness of the words being sung.

[Mostly] Homophonic – where parts move together

[Sometimes] Polyphonic – where many parts weave in and out of each other.

Singers sing in unison and in harmony.

Imitation is also used, basses & sopranos copy tenors.

Large scale string orchestra

Cello and Chamber organ

Aria – vocal solo with accompaniment

Recitative – like spoken song, narrative, tells a story

Choir – sung together

Syllabic – Note played for each syllable