Music Appreciation - Week 3: Purcell and Handel

MUSIC APPRECIATION WEEK 3: BAROQUE I

HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695)

Here is a live performance of Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. This is one of the most heartbreaking arias in all opera. Weep Along with Aeneus as she accepts her fate. You can find the whole opera on YouTube if you are interested.

Dido and Aeneas

GEORGE FREDERIC HANDEL (1685-1750)

We will learn about Bach next time but of the two composers (born on the same date) Handel was the more popular in his time. He was a true star and became the toast of the musical word. Bach on the other hand, humbly lived the life of a provincial musician, toiling all his hours away teaching, writing, rehearsing the choir and fixing organs. We will give him his due next week but now let us take a closer look at the composer of The Messiah. You might mostly think of oratorios when you think of Handel but he wrote a lot more than that. These days some of his operas are being newly appreciated by a modern audience. I might recommend Theodora and Handel's last oratorio Jeptha. I also really like his L'Allegro, il Penso ed il Moderato, which is an oratorio based on poems by Milton that promotes classical ideas of balance and moderation. (Good advice for those wild college years.)

This biography is in five parts but worth every second of your time. The name of the documentary is "Handel the Conquering Hero"

Handel Bio Part 1

Handel Bio Part 2

Handel Bio Part 3

Handel Bio Part 4

Handel Bio Part 5

You are now ready to take this week's Music Quiz:

Music Quiz #3

Music Appreciation Week 2

THE RENAISSANCE

Sacred Music

In class this week we heard a Motet by Josquin de Prez. Here is an NPR radio broadcast about Josquin's Missa Pange Lingua Mass. In this broadcast, Ted Libbey illustrates how Josquin incorporated Gregorian chant from the Medeival period into his music.

Next, watch this documentary on the life and music of Giovanni Palestrina. It also explains how Gregorian chant evolved into Polyphony. The documentary is in seven parts.

Palestrina and the Popes Pt. 1

Palestrina and the Popes Pt. 2

Palestrina and the Popes Pt. 3

Palestrina and the Popes Pt.4

Palestrina and the Popes Pt. 5

Palestrina and the Popes Pt. 6

Palestrina and the Popes Pt. 7

Secular Music

John Dowland

(I played some of his music for you in class.)

You are now ready to click the link below for Quiz 2:

Quiz #2

Music Appreciation Week 1

PART I: SACRED MUSIC

Hildegarde von Bingham (1098 - 1179) was not just a composer but also a writer, philosopher, mystic, Benedictine abbess and visionary as well.
She wrote theological and medicinal texts as well as liturgical dramas, poems, songs and letters.

Here is a video of Lynn Maxwell playing Hildegard von Bingen talking about her life:

(Lynn Maxwell is a mezzo-soprano who has been involved in musical theatre and cabaret.)

The instrument that Lynn Maxwell is cranking is called a hurdy gurdy.

Now that you've gotten to know Hildegarde a little more, let's listen to an

excerpt from "The Voice of the Blood". Close your eyes, be still and let this music transport you to a peaceful Benedictine abbey.

PART II: MINSTRELS

Here is an excellent and entertaining video piece by Monty Python's Terry Jones. It gives us some insight into the true life of a minstrel:

Here is some authentically performed music of the troubadours.

The CD is pictured below if you'd like to purchase it.

Here are some pictures of Medieval instruments:

sackbut

shawn

crumhorn

tabor

Now you are ready to complete this weeks' scavenger hunt. Click below.

Music Quiz