Handel

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Where does 'And the Glory of the Lord' come from?
The oratorio Messiah. It is the first chorus in Messiah
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When was the Messiah composed?
1741
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Describe the rhythm, metre and tempo of 'And the Glory of the Lord'
The piece is in 3/4. It maintains a fast tempo (allegro) until the end, where there is a bar of total silence (known as a general pause), and then three bars in a lower tempo (Adagio). It has many hemiolas, such as in bars 9-10 (feels like 2/4)
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What are the dynamics of the piece?
f and mf, to match joyful mood of words- TERRACED DYNAMICS
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Describe the instrumentation of the piece
A choir and a orchestra. The choir is made up of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses. They are accompanied by strings (violins, violas) and continuo (for cello and harpischord or organ). The orchestra often doubles the vocal lines.
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Describe the tonality and harmony of the piece
In A major. It modulates to two related keys:the dominant (E Major) and the supertonic (B major). The piece ends with a plagal cadence in A major. The harmony is diatonic.
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Describe the structure of the piece
Starts with an orchestral introduction, called a ritornello. Shortened versions of this music return later in the work in two different places. There is no set form to the movement. It is based on different combinations of four motifs
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Describe the first motif (melody)
Sung by the altos, starting in bar 11. Based on triad of A major
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Describe the second motif (melody)
First sung by tenors, starting in bar 17. This motif uses a descending sequence and a melisma on the world 'revealed'. Also, on the music of this motif, the small '8' under the treble clef means that the music sounds an octave lower than it is writte
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Describe the third motif (melody)
First sung by altos, starting in bar 43. This motif has the idea of repetition present.
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Describe the fourth motif (melody)
First sung by tenors and basses, starting in bar 51. As most of it is on the same pitch (A), and it uses longer notes, it sounds rather solemn.
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Describe the texture of the piece
Most of the piece alternates between homophonic and contrapuntal passages. E.g., the first passage sung by the whole choir is homophonic (Bars 14-17). This is then followed by a contrapuntal section (bars 17-33)
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Describe the texture of the piece (2)
There is a very short monophonic passage in bars 108-109. It uses imitation e.g. in bar 17 the tenors sing 'shall be revealed' and this is then imitated by the basses and sopranos.
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Describe Word Setting in the piece
There is a mixture of syllabic and melismatic word setting. E.g. motif 4 'For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it' is syllabic. Whereas the word 'revealed' in motif 2 is melismatic. The different phrases of text are repeated many times
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

When was the Messiah composed?

Back

1741

Card 3

Front

Describe the rhythm, metre and tempo of 'And the Glory of the Lord'

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the dynamics of the piece?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Describe the instrumentation of the piece

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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