Handel’s Messiah, recognizable as a fixture of the Christmas season, has had a lasting impact on many generations due to its canonical status. Debuting in Musick Hall in Dublin during 1742, the piece was originally an Easter offering, telling the story of Christ through music and lyrics inspired by the Bible. Essentially, Messiah was intended to not merely be entertainment, but also to be a lesson to all. During the eighteenth century, England was primarily protestant, whereas Ireland was dominated by Catholics. Being performed in Ireland after the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which sought to establish Protestant rule and override Catholicism, Messiah further established Protestantism while seeking to expand England’s colonization through this religious identity. Despite the tension between Protestantism and Catholicism, the piece was well received, for, during this time period, illiteracy was common among more lower class families, and not many could afford to buy a Bible. However, Handel’s oratorio allowed those who could not read or afford a Bible the chance to hear the story of the Messiah. As a result, Messiah was a huge …show more content…
Essentially, the piece was originally often performed in more secular settings so that those who did not attend church or were not religious could still hear the story of the Messiah. Additionally, during this time period, wealth lay in the hands of the aristocracy and commercial life was controlled by an expanding middle class. Thus, it was generally the more affluent, higher-class citizens who had the luxury of enjoying music, taking music lessons, and attending performances. However, Messiah challenged this stratification and sense of authority by being written to be an inclusive experience for all, not just the
...rtly audience.” So even looking at this manuscript one can conclude that the musical life in England was quite lively. Many people participated and had a hand in the success King Henry VIII saw in his court. King Henry VIII’s musical talent and patronage certainly defined many of the characteristics he had as king, but history can’t ignore the treatment of his wives, the executions of his political rivals, and cultivation of fear among the common people. Luckily his beliefs in the role of the arts somewhat subdued a lot of the negativity some associated King Henry VIII with. Through his music and his court he was able to define how music should be used in any monarchy by making it a daily ritual in which the members of his court were enriched with music in their lives. This practice among others is what made King Henry VIII such a supreme figure in the Renaissance.
On March 21, 1685, the son of Johann Ambrosius Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach was born. He and his family lived in Eisenach, Germany for ten years (Baroquemusic). When he was a young boy, Johann Sebastian’s father taught him how to play the violin and the harpsichord. Johann Sebastian’s uncle, Johann Christoph Bach taught him how to play the organ, proving to have an aptitude for learning these instruments. At the age of eight, Johann Sebastian went to the Latin Grammar School, where he was taught how to read and write a fair amount of scriptures in Latin and German (Baroquemusic). Johann Sebastian was also part of the choir of St. Geogrenkirche. Sadly, Johann Sebastian lost his mother when he was nine years old, and lost his father nine months
Handel became a proficient composer of oratorio in part to his early success in composing opera. To elaborate on the histological influences on Handel, his career and education path must be noted. Born in Halle, Germany in 1685, Handel began his career in music as an organist, studying under Friedrich Zachow, one of the most renowned organists of his time. In 1702, he began attending the University of Halle while taking on the position as Organist at Calvinist church, Domkirche. After only a year, he tired of this and decided to travel to Hamburg to study opera. To support this endeavor, while in Hamburg, he played in orchestras as a harpsich...
Music is an art and a wonderful gift to human race. It soothes, stimulates and makes us feel happy. It affects our moods in many different ways from lullaby to war cry for changes in the society. Music is actually distinct to different people. Above all, it has a transformational importance that is captured in its art and nature. Music draws our emotions and it has an impact of bridging different cultures across the continents. Slave songs were very vital channels through which all kind of information was conveyed both positive and negative.
Baroque can be defined as grotesque, in bad taste or of irregular and disproportionate shape (McGee 45). Meanwhile pieces during this time period were anything but grotesque—they were masterpieces. The styles during the baroque time period lasting from 1600-1750 consisted of operas, oratorios, cantatas, orchestras, concerto grosso, and rococos (McGee 48-55). Handel’s specialty was opera, thus during the baroque time period the most popular piece composed was “Messiah” which was first performed in 1742 (McGee 49).
Between the 1600s and the 1700s, many would think more of Kings or Queens who ruled their vast kingdoms for years upon years rather than a great composer such as Johann Sebastian Bach, a man who greatly contributed to Germany and many other specific regions of Europe during his life. Born in 1685 Eisenach on March 21, Bach was a member of one of the most excellent musical families of all time as, for over 200 years, the Bach family had birthed some of the most superb composers and performers, many supported by churches, the government, and nobles for their extraordinary works ("Wikipedia"). However, having been orphaned so early on, Bach grew up in the home of his brother, Johann Christoph Bach, in Ohrdruf. During his early life, he attended schools of dance, acted as an organist on many occasions, particularly in Arnstadt, Mühlhausen, Weimar, as well as a court music director in Cöthen, and, later in his life, in 1723 to be precise, he became the grand choirmaster of St.Thomas in Leipzig for twenty-seven years and oversaw many events of the school, going so far as to divide the students into four individual choirs and recruiting the talents of the citys professional musicians and university students (pg 1 - 14, Eidam). He continued as a choirmaster until the end of his days, writing various and exquisite pieces that were preformed in front of many audiences, quite a few of which were preformed by those of the four individual choirs he created while he lead them through each piece (pg 1 - 14, Eidam). Though this may not seem as important as the rulings of Kings and Queens at the time, Bach's contribution to his homeland of Germany and its people was mostly certainly memorable and worth consideration. In fact, because of his contr...
This wonderful piece displays the time period in which slavery was taken place , reconstruction, baptism , going to church , and brushes up on the idea of how African American humans developed from the time when they were being devalued and treated like "nothing more than animals." Revelations is a very popular piece, reason being that the choreography is so magnificent at telling it 's story it comes off as an inspiration for the viewers. At the start of this piece it was originally ten sections, but later on sections was constantly removed as the work progressed over time. Revelations are now divided into three sections "Pilgrim of Sorrow," "Take Me to the Water" and "Move,Members,Move" which are all unique in their own
The Baroque period was filled with the new idea that every issue had two sides. Great thinkers and masterminds left behind the idea that the world was either god- influenced or science-influenced. Most people embraced this notion, with the exception of a few. Johann Sebastian Bach was one of these few people. Bach, although the greatest composer of the Baroque period, led a life based on tradition and past influence, which left him virtually ignored for many years after his death.
German-English composer, George Frederick Handel, is one of the greatest composers of the Baroque period if not of all time. His work, Messiah, is one of the most famous and beloved works of music in the world. During his career in music, Handel composed Italian cantatas, oratorios (like Messiah), Latin Church Music, and several operas. Handel moved around from country to country writing, composing, and producing music for royalty such as Queen Anne and George of Hanover. In his life, Handel mastered several instruments including the violin and the harpsichord.
...f he found a specific singer unfit. He would even change portions of the oratorio to match the voices of different singers (TIME Magazine; Thompson 881; Vickers). Despite many additions, each version of Messiah contains at least a shred of Handel’s talent.
During the classical era the social function of music began to change from earlier aristocratic and religious connections toward more public and secular activities associated with the middle class. The rise of public concerts, the spread of commercial opera houses, the growth of music publishing, the increased number of musical pieces composed and played were all direct effects of the changing musical times.
...op the chorus’s prominent role of edifying the audience of the truth behind the sumptuous life of the upper class, but also seeks to engrave compassion for the less fortunates.
“We are pleased to invite our friends and neighbors in Carson City and surrounding areas to enjoy this beautiful live broadcast of Handel’s Messiah”, said David Haws, senior church
George Frideric Handel was one of the greatest composers of the late baroque period (1700-1750) and, during his lifetime, perhaps the most internationally famous of all musicians.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was unlike most other composers of his time. “He wrote music for the glory of God, and to satisfy his own burning curiosity, not for future fame.” During the 1700s, people knew him as a talented musician, not as a composer, as we do today. He never left his country to pursue bigger and better things. Bach was content as long as he could play music. Traditions were very important to him. He wanted to carry on the musical tradition of his family, and never opted to change the traditional ways of composing, as did most composers. Bach’s work is vast and unique.