Page 104 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

102 HIGH BAROQUE RELIGIOUS CHORAL MUSIC

Oratorio Oratorio versus Opera Opera

Plots are inspired by
Takes religious text as
its subject matter. stirring myths, history,
and literature.

Performed as musical
Performed as a concert theatre, with sets,
piece without props.
scenery, and costumes.

In later operas,
Uses a singing narrator
to advance the plot. characters advance
the plot.

Singers are static and
characters do Characters move and
interact.
not interact.

motets were accompanied only The anthem was prevalent in and accompaniment continued to
by continuo, whereas the grands England, as a sectional dramatic be popular in the Baroque period.
motets, such as those of Jean- work placing instrumental sections The subtle word-painting that the
Baptist Lully, included soloists with solo passages, recitatives, and madrigal engendered influenced
and an increasing number of full choruses. Purcell was a gifted other genres and is found in many
instruments. They were less exponent of the form, and Handel sacred choral works of the period.
common in Germany; the best- took it to even greater heights. His
known examples today are by four ceremonial anthems include St. Matthew Passion
Heinrich Schütz and Bach. Bach’s the renowned Zadok the Priest, For a musician such as Bach who
motets, which strongly influenced written for the coronation of King was principally concerned with
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart George II in 1727. church music, the Passion, which
(1756–1791), were virtually the The Magnificat, sung at vespers set the biblical events from the Last
only works of his to be regularly and evensong, is the canticle (hymn) Supper up to the Crucifixion, was
performed after his death until of the Virgin Mary from Luke’s an opportunity to use the dramatic
the Bach revival in the early Gospel, first set in the Renaissance. techniques of opera within a
19th century. Each was arranged Monteverdi and Vivaldi produced religious setting. Bach wrote at
for different sized choirs, and it is important Baroque settings, but least three such works (only two
unclear how they were used within Bach’s Magnificat for five parts have survived); for its mastery of
church services, although some and orchestra is probably the best emotion, imagination, and power
were written for funerals. known today. of expression make the St. Matthew
Other choral forms of the High Although the madrigal is more Passion a towering monument of
Baroque period include the anthem, usually associated with earlier human creativity. It was written
the Magnificat, and the madrigal. periods, this secular form for voices to be performed either side of the

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