Oratorio Essays

The oratorio originated in Italy, and was considered a musical story based on an Old Testament character from the Bible. Even though Giacomo Carissimi was the father of this genre, with his work Jepthe, the oratorio as we know it today was not developed until later by the hands of Schütz, J.S. Bach, Handel, and Mendelssohn. This paper will discuss the contributions to the genre from these great composers. Before unravelling the contributions of Schütz, it is important to know the background of the

George Frideric Handel was a great musician who composed many operas and oratorios especially in London. He is an inspiration of many due to his hard work in both music and other fields. For instance, in Hanover, Handel was made the Kapellmeister to the Elector, George Louis who favored him and sent him to visit England for twelve months. During his first visit in London, he was received at Queen Anne 's court and stayed there for the first eight months. However, his great interest was in Vanbrugh’s

uns die Stimme” by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) were both composed during the Baroque period of music. During this time period, two new genres in music were developed in Italy known as the cantata and the oratorio used in Cantata No. 140 and Messiah, respectively. Both cantata and oratorio are heavily influenced by the opera using multi-movement works such as arias, recitative, and chorus accompanied by an orchestra (Kamien). However, unlike opera, neither of them was staged with acting, costumes

formation of the Oratorio was an example of these changes that occurred during this time period. Handel’s oratorios that were set in English were gained popularity, it was also peculiar that they were composed in the English language instead of Italian, as it had been proclaimed the George Friedrich Handel was “German born and Italian trained” (). The purpose of this essay is to examine the dramatic content and musical styles of Handel’s oratorios. This essay will examine four oratorios

An oratorio is defined as a composition that uses a choir, soloist, and ensemble as the main focus of a concert piece. The work incorporates music from Bach’s earlier compositions and is considered a classic example of parody music. While the author of the text is unknown, it is likely that is was by a Christian Friedrich Henrici, a longtime collaborator of Bach’s, who went by the pen name Picander. Modern renditions are commonly performed in two parts, as the total duration of the Oratorio is around

Hinnenberg-Lefèbre (21 July 1901 – 7 September 1981), a German soprano, studied singing with Constance Lacuielle and von Walter at the Conservatory in Cologne, with Eugen Robert Weiss in Munich and Oscar Daniel in Berlin. She started her career as an oratorio singer, but sang much Lied and was well known for her interpretation of Schönberg’s music. She did not sing opera on stage, although she sang opera roles in radio. Hinnenberg-Lefèbre had her breakthrough in 1926 when she sang the soprano part of

and concerns. As science develops in Baroque period so does music. The appearance of oratorio in Italy in the 16th century gives the development of concert type of Catholic sacred music and provides balance between liturgical singing and opera. Oratorio gave a chance for listen and watch non-banned church’s

end of the oratorio I thought the orchestra was so loud that I could not hear over the choir or soloist. My favorite part of the oratorio was the third selection, when Adam and Eve came on stage. I felt that once Adam and Eve entered the stage, they brighten up the oratorio and it showed through their singing. I also like how the words are in the program for the audience to follow along too.

Handel was a well known composer of operas, oratorios, and instrumentals. He was a very influential composer during the Baroque era, and he still has a major impact on society today. George Friedrich Handel was born in Halle, Germany, on February 23, 1685. He was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach, although they never actually met. Handel longed to study music from an early age, however, his father refused to allow him, as he didn’t think it would be a very good source of income. Although his

Shostakovich then asked Dolmatovsky to write the poems for the oratorio. After Dolmatovsky completed the poems, Shostakovich composed the music during the summer of 1949, and finished the oratorio on 15 August 1949. The oratorio is composed for tenor, bass, boys choir, mixed choir, and a symphony orchestra, and consists of seven songs: “When the War Was Over”, “Clothe the Homeland in Forests”

George Frederic Handel was born on Feb. 23rd 1685, in Halle, Saxony (Germany). As a child he was discouraged from pursuing music (which he was a big fan of) by his father, and was coaxed into learning law. He learnt his musical skills in Halle from composer Friedrich W. Zachow. At age 17 he went to study law but dropped out after a year. He then moved to Hamburg in 1703, there he played second violinist at the opera house and was sometimes maestro al cembalo (harpsichordist/conductor). He wrote

noted for his operas, oratorios, and cantatas. Handel was born in Halle, Germany on February 23, 1685. Ironically, his father was very much against him pursuing his passion for music and instead strongly insisted he go into law. However, with the help of his mother, he stayed devoted, practicing and writing in secrecy. While still a child, he received a request to play for the duke’s

These two main groups had different ways of being sung or played. Vocal music had the forms or opera which had the three different styles of seria, comique, and ballet. The other forms of vocal music were masque, oratorio, passion, cantata, mass, anthem, monody, chorale, and zarzuela. The different forms of instrumental music would be Chorale composition, Concerto grosso, Fugue, Suite with the different styles of Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Gavotte, and

I like baroque music because it’s a different type of music that I never heard in my lifetime. One of the key ideas in Baroque music comes from the Renaissance attention in thoughts from ancient Greece and Rome. In 1605, the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi really defined a first and second practice: The first was the harmony and counterpoint that took preference over the text and the second one was the need to prompt the importance of the words vanquished any other fear. In the baroque period

Throughout history, many periods of music have existed, some of which have left behind enduring contributions to music altogether. The most important period of music however is the Baroque period. This is because the beginning of its era marked the introduction of dominant musical devices that have been used ever since. The term “baroque” was derived from the Portuguese barroco meaning “oddly shaped pearl” and refers to a period of European music or Western European art music that flourished from

the oratorio, the cantata, the concerto, the sonata and the suite. The opera is a drama primarily sang accompanied by instruments and presented on stage. It typically alternates between recitative, speech like song that advances the plot, and aries, songs in which characters express feelings at particular points in their action. The oratorio is an extended musical drama with a text based on religious subject matter intended for performance without scenery, costume or action. Oratorio originally

Baroque music is a style of Western classical music that originated in the 17th century and continued until the mid-18th century. It is characterized by a highly ornate, intricate and complex style of composition, with a focus on the dramatic expression of emotions. Baroque music is known for its use of contrasting dynamics, elaborate melodies, and intricate counterpoint. Other defining characteristics of Baroque music include the use of instruments such as harpsichord, violin, and trumpet, as well

Franz Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in Rohrau, Austria. He started out his musical days as a choir member. This all began when he was six years old. This was the age when Haydn went to go live with a cousin who was a choirmaster. Haydn would sing in the church choir, and that is what lead his life to change quite drastically at the age of eight years old. When he was eight years old, he was asked to come and sing in one of Austria’s most famous churches named St. Stephan’s Cathedral. He

1. A fugue is a contrapuntal composition in which a single theme pervades the entire fabric, entering in one voice (or instrumental line) and then in another. Based on the principle of imitation. An example would be Bach’s cantata Wachet auf. 2. Has three parts, exposition, development, recapitulation. And Exposition is repeated which has two parts theme one and theme two. Which goes back to the development which you could do whatever you want with it. But has to end in the tonic form instead of

context and include the ritornello technique. As for the texture of these compositions, both are characterized by a polyphonic and imitative texture. Additionally, string instruments are used in Messiah and Wachet Auf. Handel is famous for his English oratorio Messiah, which has three parts and begins with a string ritornello. It gives the listener a sense of calmness in that there is not much action or excitement. The aria Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted is characterized by its word painting. For