"Hallelujah" from Messiah
Listening Guide
Embedded Files
Performed by English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir, Conducted by John Eliot Gardiner
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Composition: "Hallelujah" from Messiah
Date: 1741
Genre: chorus from an oratorio
Form: sectional; sections delineated by texture changes
Nature of Text: English language libretto quoting the Bible
Performing Forces: chorus and orchestra
What we want you to remember about this composition:
- It is for four-part chorus and orchestra
- It uses a sectional form where sections are delineated by changes in texture
One thing to remember about this composition:
- In a major key, using mostly major chords
- Key motives repeat over and over, often in sequence
Timing
Timing
Performing Forces, Melody, and Texture
Performing Forces, Melody, and Texture
Text and Form:
Text and Form:
Orchestra:Introduces main musical motive in a major key with a homophonic texture where parts of the orchestra play the melody and other voices provide the accompaniment
Chorus + orchestra:
Here the choir and the orchestra provide the melody and accompaniment of the homophonic texture
"Hallejulah"
Chorus + orchestra:
Dramatic shift to monophonic with the voices and orchestra performing the same melodic line at the same time.
"For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth"
Chorus + orchestra:
Texture shifts to non-imitative polyphonic with the initial entrance of the sopranos, then the tenors, then the altos.
"For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth"
Chorus + orchestra:
Imitative polyphony starts in basses, then is passed to tenors, then to the altos, and then to the sopranos.
"And he shall reign for ever and ever"
Chorus + orchestra: Each entrance is sequenced higher; the women sing the monophonic repeated melody motive
Monophony alternating with homophony
"And Lord of Lords…"
Repeated alternation of the monophonic "king of kings and lord of lords" with homophonic "for ever and ever"
Chorus + orchestra: Polyphonic texture (with some imitation)
"And he shall reign for ever and ever"
Chorus + orchestra: The alternation of monophonic and homophonic textures.
"King of kings and lord of lords" alternating with "for ever and ever"
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