Handel
Handel
The Baroque Style
- Baroque music was composed during the period from around 1600 to 1750.
- Characterised by its ornate and highly decorated melodies.
- Ornamentation was a key feature of the Baroque period.
- Strong contrast was common, such as between loud and soft, solo and ensemble.
- Basso continuo, a form of musical accompaniment used in the Baroque era, was a distinct part of the style.
Baroque Structures
- Binary structure (AB), where two sections of music are different.
- Ternary structure (ABA), where a first section is followed by a contrasting section, and then a repetition of the first section.
- Ritornello form was common in baroque concertos, with a recurring theme.
Baroque Melody Patterns
- Sequential melody patterns were popular, where a phrase of the melody is repeated at a higher or lower pitch.
- Melodic ornamentation was a key feature of Baroque music.
- This included trills, mordents, and appoggiaturas.
Ornaments in Baroque Music
- Ornaments (or ornamentation) refers to the various ways pitches can be altered to enhance melody.
- Typically used to enhance key notes in a melody, such as the first and last note.
- Common ornaments include trills, turns, mordents and appoggiaturas.
Choral Music
- Choral music was a major part of the Baroque style, with composers writing for both small and large ensembles.
- Baroque choral music often involved the use of a choir and soloists, as well as an orchestra.
- Works such as masses and motets were popular forms of choral music in the Baroque period.
Operas and Oratorios
- Baroque operas were typically based on myths and legends, and contained a great deal of drama.
- Oratorios were similar to operas, but based on religious stories.
Handel
- German-born composer George Frideric Handel is a prominent figure of the Baroque era.
- He is famous for his oratorio works, which include the highly regarded ‘Messiah’.
- Handel’s music is recognised for its melodic inventiveness and use of dramatic contrast.