1. AOS1 – Western Classical Music (1600-1899)
The Baroque Era

3. Dates:
?
1600 - 1750
Composers: Handel
Bach ?
Purcell
Vivaldi
‘And the Glory of
Set work:
?
the Lord’ from
‘Messiah - Handel

4. Concerto Grosso
Trio sonatas
Small orchestra
with solo and tutti
parts
Oratorios
Bible stories
Opera set to music
Ground Bass
and variations
Keyboard pieces

5. Terraced
dynamics
Basso continuo
Loud and soft – no
crescendo/diminuendo
Same mood
throughout
Long phrases
Ornaments
Driving rhythm

6. Strings
Oboe/bassoon
Harpsichord
Baroque orchestras
were mostly strings
Valveless trumpet
Recorder/baroque flute
Organ

7. Set work 1: ‘And the Glory of
the Lord’ from ‘Messiah’ –
George Frideric Handel

8. An oratorio for solo voices,
choir and orchestra
4th movement of ‘Messiah’
– the first chorus in the
work
Tells the story of the
birth death and
resurrection of Jesus
First performed in Dublin in 1742

9. Structure:
• Based on 4 motifs
1. ‘And the Glory of the Lord’ – first three notes
outline A major triad. Syllabic word setting.
2. ‘Shall be revealed’ – Descending sequences.
Melismatic word setting.
3. ‘And all flesh shall see it together’ – repetitive
4. ‘For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it’ –
long notes. Solemn like chant.

11. A major

13. Modulations to the
dominant, E major, and
the dominant of the
dominant, B major

15. ¾ - triple time

17. Allegro

18. Textures in the piece:
Homophonic: melody part + accompaniment,
meaning bars 33 - 38
example
parts moving at the same time
two parts singing the same words,
Doubling: meaning
at different pitches or octaves
bar 51 onwards
example
a single melodic line with no bars 11 - 13
Monophonic: meaning
accompaniment example
two or more parts
Imitation: meaning
copying/imitating each other example
bar 17 onwards
two of the 4 motifs being sung
2 ideas together: meaning
at the same time
example
bars 110 - 113