LIFE
-1685-1759
-Born in Halle, Germany
-son of a prosperous barber-surgeon
-never married
-Music not considered a suitable profession, but allowed to study as a child (organ, harpsichord, violin, oboe), studied counterpoint and music of German and Italian composers
-1702 attended university of Halle for one year, studied law (pursued music professionally after his father's death)
-1703-1706 appointed cathedral organist, gave it up to move to Hamburg and pursue interest in opera (second violinist in opera house orchestra)
-passion for opera-wrote first opera Almira in 1705 at age 20, was a success
-1706-1710 Italy (employed in Rome by Marquis and Princes) studied and wrote operas, cantatas... performances of works in major cities
-1710 appointed conductor to the Elector of Hanover who later became King George of England (paid nearly 20x Bach's Weimar salary)
-Autumn 1710 visited London, successful production of Rinaldo
-1712 moved to London
-court composer for Queen Anne until her death in 1714, then King George I (died 1727)
-1720 the Royal Academy of Music was founded to present Italian opera, supported by the king and other wealthy backers, Handel appointed musical director
-1720-1728 Directed his own operas, wrote a new opera in 2-3 weeks, began composing in the new Italian opera seria style (relaxed rigid structure of traditioknal opera to serve drama)
-1728 Royal Academy collapsed (infighting and extravagance=bankrupt), could not compete with success of 'folk' opera like John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (sung in English, comical themes, ballad opera) which appealed to middle class (King George II crowned)
-1729-1738 took over the theatre, went bankrupt due to competition with other opera houses and the high cost of opera stars
-had a stroke
-1738 began composing sacred 'opera' Oratorio using heroic Biblical themes (acting forbidden in church-no set, costumes... no need to hire foreign singers=less costly) and more popular with middle class due to simplicity
-lost eyesight due to cataracts, dictated later works (mainly revised older works)
-1759 began oratorio season, conducted 10 sold out performances in one month
-collapsed after a performance of Messiah and died a few days later
-Born in Halle, Germany
-son of a prosperous barber-surgeon
-never married
-Music not considered a suitable profession, but allowed to study as a child (organ, harpsichord, violin, oboe), studied counterpoint and music of German and Italian composers
-1702 attended university of Halle for one year, studied law (pursued music professionally after his father's death)
-1703-1706 appointed cathedral organist, gave it up to move to Hamburg and pursue interest in opera (second violinist in opera house orchestra)
-passion for opera-wrote first opera Almira in 1705 at age 20, was a success
-1706-1710 Italy (employed in Rome by Marquis and Princes) studied and wrote operas, cantatas... performances of works in major cities
-1710 appointed conductor to the Elector of Hanover who later became King George of England (paid nearly 20x Bach's Weimar salary)
-Autumn 1710 visited London, successful production of Rinaldo
-1712 moved to London
-court composer for Queen Anne until her death in 1714, then King George I (died 1727)
-1720 the Royal Academy of Music was founded to present Italian opera, supported by the king and other wealthy backers, Handel appointed musical director
-1720-1728 Directed his own operas, wrote a new opera in 2-3 weeks, began composing in the new Italian opera seria style (relaxed rigid structure of traditioknal opera to serve drama)
-1728 Royal Academy collapsed (infighting and extravagance=bankrupt), could not compete with success of 'folk' opera like John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (sung in English, comical themes, ballad opera) which appealed to middle class (King George II crowned)
-1729-1738 took over the theatre, went bankrupt due to competition with other opera houses and the high cost of opera stars
-had a stroke
-1738 began composing sacred 'opera' Oratorio using heroic Biblical themes (acting forbidden in church-no set, costumes... no need to hire foreign singers=less costly) and more popular with middle class due to simplicity
-lost eyesight due to cataracts, dictated later works (mainly revised older works)
-1759 began oratorio season, conducted 10 sold out performances in one month
-collapsed after a performance of Messiah and died a few days later
STYLE
-organ virtuoso-Bach's harpsichord concertos and Handel's organ concertos are the earliest keyboard concertos written
-leading and most influential composer in English msucial history
-secular, cosmopolitan contrast to Bach's sacred humility!
-dramatic, diatonic harmonies
-simple but driving rhythms
-rich and expressive melodies
-use of tone colour for dramatic expression and dissonance for emotional tension
-use of simple elements like chordal or scale passages made music accessible
-frequently used alternating textures for contrast (homophonic vs contrapuntal)
-sense of grand drama portrayed through bold dynamic contrasts, full choral writing style
-wrote virtuosic arias
-operas enjoyed popularity in England, Germany, and Italy, fusion of style made Handel an international composer
-important contributor to the development of opera seria, orchestral and keyboard suites
-perfector of the oratorio-embodied Baroque splendour and grandeur-expanded the role of the chorus (Creator of the "English" oratorio)
-leading and most influential composer in English msucial history
-secular, cosmopolitan contrast to Bach's sacred humility!
-dramatic, diatonic harmonies
-simple but driving rhythms
-rich and expressive melodies
-use of tone colour for dramatic expression and dissonance for emotional tension
-use of simple elements like chordal or scale passages made music accessible
-frequently used alternating textures for contrast (homophonic vs contrapuntal)
-sense of grand drama portrayed through bold dynamic contrasts, full choral writing style
-wrote virtuosic arias
-operas enjoyed popularity in England, Germany, and Italy, fusion of style made Handel an international composer
-important contributor to the development of opera seria, orchestral and keyboard suites
-perfector of the oratorio-embodied Baroque splendour and grandeur-expanded the role of the chorus (Creator of the "English" oratorio)
WORKS
-over 40 operas (Almira 1705, Rinaldo 1711, Julius Caesar 1724)
-26 oratorios (Israel in Egypt 1739, Messiah 1742, Judas Maccabaeus 1747), not all sacred
-other sacred vocal music (cantatas, Ode for Saint Cecilia's Day, Te Deum)
-secular vocal music
-orchestral music (concerti, sonatas, suites including Water Music 1717, Music for Royal Fireworks)
-chamber music, keyboard music
-26 oratorios (Israel in Egypt 1739, Messiah 1742, Judas Maccabaeus 1747), not all sacred
-other sacred vocal music (cantatas, Ode for Saint Cecilia's Day, Te Deum)
-secular vocal music
-orchestral music (concerti, sonatas, suites including Water Music 1717, Music for Royal Fireworks)
-chamber music, keyboard music
TERMS
French overture: 2 sections. A (repeated) B. dotted rhythms. Slow A, fast B
Libretto: Text of opera or oratorio (script)
Da Capo Aria: Typical ternary form. A|B→D.C A repeated and embellished
Recitative: Lots of text with simple melody to advance plot
Recitative Secco: Accompanied by basso/ continuo only
Recitativo Accompagnato: Full orchestra
Word painting: using the music to describe something
Libretto: Text of opera or oratorio (script)
Da Capo Aria: Typical ternary form. A|B→D.C A repeated and embellished
Recitative: Lots of text with simple melody to advance plot
Recitative Secco: Accompanied by basso/ continuo only
Recitativo Accompagnato: Full orchestra
Word painting: using the music to describe something
TEXT SETTING: setting words to music
Syllabic: 1 note per syllable
Neumatic: 2 or 3 notes per syllable
Melismatic: many notes per syllable
Neumatic: 2 or 3 notes per syllable
Melismatic: many notes per syllable