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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!