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Author
G. F. Handel (1685-1759: German)
- embodies the worldliness of the late Baroque era
- son of a prosperous barber-surgeon
- appointed conductor to the elector of Hanover at age 25
- appointed a musical director of the Royal Academy of Music (England) at age 35.
- wrote more than 40 operas
- Wikipedia Article
About the Piece
(much of thedescription comes from elements that were brought out by Forney and Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, and the accompanying DVD)
- Genre is Oratorio
- aria is full of virtuoso
- aria is da capo form, A B A
- elaborate instrumentation
- Hallelujah chorus is strong and triumphant
- text language is English
- multiple changes in texture during Hallelujah chorus
- Hallelujah chorus comes to a strong polyphonic climax
- whole piece is quite majestic and regal
Purpose
- sacred
- oratorios were generally for telling stories (this is one of the few that does not really)
Reflections
Another piece that I would like to hear in its entirity, particularly since it is in English. Handel's style is clearly more elaborate than Bach's style, and it's decently clear that the two had different motives for writting music. I like the virtuosity of the aria, but perhaps it belongs more in a secular context.