Chapter 8

Oratorio
I should be sorry, my Lord, if I had

only succeeded in entertaining them; I

wished to make them better.
The composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759),
after Messiah was performed in London in 1743

Oratorio
Developed in Italy
Result of reform spurred by Protestant Reformation
Congregation of the Oratory built buildings close

to churches

Used for talks, lectures, performances on religious

subjects

Intended to teach
Many based on stories from Bible
Used singing narrator to explain events before and
between musical selections
Series of recitatives, arias, and choral movements

George Frideric Handel

(1685-1759)
1685 Born, Halle, Germany
1697 second assistant organist, Halle

Cathedral
1702 enters law school, leaves after year
1703 Hamburg, violinist in opera house
1704 Almira, recitatives in German, arias in
Italian
1706 travels throughout Italy studying opera
1710 Germany, Kapellmeister to Elector of
Hanover
1711 First visit to England, opera Rinaldo

Handel (cont.)
1712 takes up permanent residence in England
1714 Elector of Hanover becomes king of England
1720 Becomes director of Royal Academy of Music
1726 Becomes English citizen
1732 First oratorio in English, Esther
1741 Abandons stage and turns to attention oratorio
1742 Premiere of Messiah, Dublin
1751 Series of unsuccessful eye operations; becomes

blind
1759 Dies, buried in Westminster Abbey

Handels Music
(Principal Works)
Operas

Rinaldo 1711
Giulio Cesare 1724
Rodelinda 1725
Orlando 1733
Ariodante 1735
Serse 1738
Most were forgotten after his death, only
recently beginning to be performed again

Principal Works (cont.)

English Oratorios

Esther 1732
Saul 1739
Messiah 1742
Judas Maccabeus 1749
Jephtha 1752

Most popular of his works (earlier

oratorios in Italian)
Also composed orchestral music and
keyboard works

Messiah
Composed in 24 days
Has become one of most celebrated

works in history of Western world

53 movements for SATB soloists,
chorus, orchestra
Three sections:
Prophecy of the Nativity (Christmas)
Suffering and Crucifixion (Easter)
Redemption through Christianity
Bulk of text from Isaiah

Listening Guide: Overture to Messiah

George Frideric Handel
French overture form
First section:

Grave introductory section

Dotted rhythms
Homophonic

Second section:

Allegro moderato
Imitative polyphony
Return to homophony of first section

Listening Guide
Comfort ye, from Messiah
George Frideric Handel
Tenor recitative
2 violins, viola, and continuo accompaniment
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,

saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
And cry unto her, that her warfare,
her warfare is accomplished,
That her iniquity is pardond.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness:
Prepare ye the way of the lord,
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Listening Guide: Evry valley from Messiah

George Frideric Handel
Uses word painting:

exalted = high melody

mountain made low = begins high and
descends
plain = sustained note
crooked = undulating melody
straight = sustained note

Listening Guide: Evry valley from Messiah

George Frideric Handel (continued)
Text: Evry valley, evry valley shall be exalted

shall be exalted, shall be exalted,

shall be exalted,
and evry mountain and hill made low,
the crooked straight,
and the rough spaces plain,
the crooked straight,
and the rough places plain,
And the rough places plain. (text repeats)

Listening Guide: Hallelujah from Messiah

George Frideric Handel
Alternates between homophonic and polyphonic textures
King George stood at beginning at first London

performance in 1743 traditional ever since

Text: Hallelujah!
for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth;
Hallelujah!
The kingdom of the world is become
the kingdom of our Lord and of
His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
for ever and ever, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah!