George Frideric Handel: Operas, Oratorios, and Messiah

Flashcards defining key terminology, musical forms, historical events, and structures related to George Frideric Handel's career, instrumental works, and oratorios such as Messiah.

Queen Anne's Pension

An initial annual pension of £200 awarded to Handel—twice what Bach made—which was later increased to £600.

Oratorio

A large-scale dramatic religious work featuring choruses, arias, and recitatives produced without scenery or costumes, making it significantly less expensive to mount than opera.

Giulio Cesare (Leo Cesari)

Handel's most popular Italian opera out of the 41 Italian operas he composed over a 36-year span.

Concerto Grosso

An instrumental genre featuring a contrast between a small ensemble of solo strings and a larger accompanying orchestral group.

Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks

Two of Handel's most famous orchestral instrumental suites.

French Style Overture

An orchestral opening movement beginning with a stately, grand section with dotted rhythmic figures, followed by a fast fugue-like section.

Castrati

High-register male singers for whom Handel composed technically demanding, virtuosic arias to display their vocal skill.

Communal Expression

The shared perspective and collective emotion of the public represented by the chorus in an oratorio, as opposed to the individual expression prominent in opera.

Lent

The liturgical season during which opera productions were prohibited in theaters, prompting Handel to present English oratorios instead.

Dublin Premiere of Messiah

The first public performance of Messiah, held as a benefit concert for prisoners in debtors' prison where women were asked not to wear hoop skirts and men to leave swords behind to save space.

1743 London Performance of Messiah

The presentation of Messiah that was poorly received by London religious authorities who objected to selling tickets and making money from the life of Christ in a commercial theater.

Messiah

Handel's concept oratorio consisting of 50 individual movements lasting two and a half hours, composed in just 24 days.

Arioso

A style of vocal writing that is more expressive and melodic than a dry recitative, but not as formally structured or fluid as a full aria.

Messiah Part One

The advent section of the oratorio focusing on the Old Testament prophecies, celestial announcements of the birth of Christ, and the redemption of humanity through his arrival.

Messiah Part Two

The section of the oratorio depicting the sacrifice of Christ, mankind's rejection of God, and the defeat of God's enemies, concluding with the Hallelujah Chorus.

Messiah Part Three

The concluding, meditative section of the oratorio reflecting on eternal life in Christ and final redemption.