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Chapter 10:Baroque Vocal

Music

Oratorio

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Key Terms

oratorio

chorus secco recitative

accompanied recitative

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Baroque Sacred Music

placed special emphasis on choir

borrowed from secular music (opera) recitative and aria

virtuoso solo singing

oratorio the most operatic genre

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Oratorio

basically an opera on a religious subject often an Old Testament story

narrative plot in several acts real characters and implied action

recitatives and arias

presented in concert form

no scenery, costumes, staging, or gestures incorporated many more choruses than

opera

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Baroque Chorus

similar to Renaissance choral music

alternating polyphony and homophony

some text painting incorporates theatrical features

narrates story, comments on action,participates in action

dramatic contrasts and rests

voices and orchestra for maximum fullness

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Handel, Messiah

Handels most famous work

composed in only 23 days

unlike other oratorios not a real story

anonymous narrators and commentators

text entirely from Bible episodes from Jesuss life (recitative)

comments on episodes (recitative, aria,and chorus)

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Recitative,There were shepherds

angels announce Christs birth

recitative in four parts alternating secco and accompanied

accompanied recitative reserved for

dramatic moments parts 3 and 4 accelerate the pace

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Chorus, Glory to God

recitative and chorus

choir participates in the action vivid contrasts in musical settings

of the three phrases

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Chorus, Glory to God

Glory to God in the highest

high voices, high pitches, rhythmic unison,

energetic, marchlike

and peace on earth low voices, low pitches, nearly monophonic

slow, soft, calm, simple, unadorned

good will toward men fugal style, imitative entrances

motive intensified in ascending

sequence

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Recitative and Chorus

Recitative:There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping

watch over their flocks by night.And lo! The angel of the Lord came upon them, and the

glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they

were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them: Fear not, for behold, Ibring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to

all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of

David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

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Recitative and Chorus

And suddenly there was with the angle a multitude of

the heavenly host, praising God, and saying:

Chorus:Glory to Godin the highest! And peace on earth.

Glory to Godin the highest! And peace on earth.

Good will toward men.

Glory to Godin the highest. And peace on earth.

Good willtoward men.

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Handel, Hallelujah Chorus

famous chorus ends Part II

contrasting textures for each phrase

homophony:

monophony: For the Lord God

polyphony:

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Hallelujah Chorus

many dramatic moments

The Kingdom of this world is become

piano, low descending scale

swells suddenly to fortein higher register

King of Kings intensifying sequence near the end

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Hallelujah Chorus

Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.The Kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of

our Lord and of his Christ.

And He shall reign for ever and ever, and he shall reign

for ever and ever.KING OF KINGS for ever and ever, Hallelujah!

AND LORD OF LORDS for ever and ever, Hallelujah!