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Baroque Choral Anglican England (Anthem: 'Zadok the Priest' 1727…
Baroque Choral
Anglican England
Anthems
General
Shorter pieces for choir
Sacred text, often a psalm
Either accompanied or unaccompanied
Either uses Latin or Vernacular
Purcell
'Oh Sing Unto The Lord' 1688
Big English Anthem
Verse Anthem
Alternates between solo Bass + full choir
Strings + Organ accompaniment
Reflects the meaning of the text
Creating contrast through use of tempo, texture, duple->triple time + different keys
'Hear My Prayer' 1682
Small English Anthem
Full Anthem
Uses whole choir all way through
Acappella for 8 parts
Features
Word painting
Crying=Melismatic+Chromatic
Use of full texture to create dramatic point
Voices coming together on same word
Highest note in the piece
Wide tesatura (range)
Handel
Born in Germany
Comes to England to work for the king
'Messiah' 1741
Originally performed in theatres as a concert piece
3 parts: Birth, Crucifixion, Resurrection
Chorus: 'For unto us a child is born'
G major
Calm + Satisfied
Fugal texture
Uneven entry
"For unto us"
Syllabic subject in tonic sung by sopranos then tenors
Melismatic counter subject sung by sopranos then basses
Answer in dominant key sung by altos
"Wonderful counsellor"
Homophonic + Syllabic + Natural pitch falls
Rests between words
Contrast to fugal = emphasis
Accompanied by violin semiquavers in parallel 3rds
Alternates textures for interest + emphasis
Recitative secco: 'There were shepherds'
Basso continuo figured bass accompaniment
Starts on offbeat
Natural pitch shape + rhythm
C major
Dominant preparation for F major
Sustained C pedal (unusual)
Root position C chord ->
Diminished chord viib (dissonant) ->
Root position C chord
Acts like a cadence
Recitative accompagnato: 'And lo! '
F major
Pastoral key
Shepherds reassured by angels
Only uses major triads
Use of inversions to create a conjunct bassline
Violin arpeggios imagery for fluttering wings
Ends with perfect cadence (IV-V-I)
De Capo Aria: 'He Was Despised'
A section
Eb major
Intimate conversation with God
Opening instrumental introduces voice themes
Foreshadowing/emphasis on text
Vocal entry
Proceeded by rest to draw in audience
Enters unaccompanied
Short, mostly syllabic, motif
Followed by sighing motif played by 2 violins in 3rds
"Sorrow"
Melismatic (contrast)
Echoed by violin
"Grief"
Word painting
Dissonant chord: F against Gb major
Followed by string of suspensions resolving to Bb major
Emphasise tension + pain
B section
C minor (relative)
Spikey character
Dotted rhythms
Syllabic
Emphasis on main beats
Quick harmonic movement
"That plucked off the hair"
Descending melodic sequence
"From shame"
Sighing motif
"From shame an spitting"
Unaccompanied (cadenza)
Then returns to beginning
Anthem: 'Zadok the Priest' 1727
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Anthem
A choral setting of a religious or moral text in English, generally designed for liturgical performance
Text is usually linked to collect of the day
Stand alone piece of music
Usually relatively short
Context
Commissioned for coronation of George II at Westminster Abbey
Performed at every coronation since
Text comes from the first book of Kings in the Old Testament
Instrumentation
More fully scored to reflect occasion + venue
3 trumpets, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons
3 violin sections, violas, cellos + double basses
Organ, timpani
Double choir except tenors
Introduction
22 bars of instrumental
D major
Celebratory + Glorifying God
Allows for use of trumpets + timpani
Associated with power + nobility (Eg. Fanfares)
Subtle, quiet, low impact introduction
No melody
Harmonic progression not modulating
Chord changes each bar
Violins play ascending triadic semiquavers in four note patterns
Woodwind + lower strings play repeated quaver chords
Chromatic harmony
Uses sharpened IV to imply modulation
Modulates to dominate (A)
Repeats same sequence up a 5th
Vocal entry
Cadence onto vocal entry
Homophonic + Syllabic + Ceremonial rhythms
Elongated rhythms clearer to hear text in venue acoustic
Trumpets + Timpani enter
Trumpets doubling vocal parts
"Solomon" uses speech-like dotted rhythm
Easier to understand less familiar word
Ends section with complete rest to clear air before new section