Page 91 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

BAROQUE 1600–1750 89

Some of the dances in Water Music

English hornpipe
Bouncy, moderately paced
dance in duple time (two
Minuet Bourrée
French court dance in beats to the bar). A lively French dance
triple (waltz) time. with folk roots.

Gigue Sarabande
A lively Baroque A slow stately dance
dance (jig) of Italian or of Spanish origin.
French origin.

Handel knew how to please an audience.
Water Music contains popular dance forms
from different parts of Europe.

(1743), and Belshazzar (1745). Lenten period, when its depiction
Messiah was so popular that men of adultery caused consternation.
were asked to attend performances Works such as this were essentially
without their swords to create more operas in English and are usually
room for the audience. performed as such today.
Handel often presented these
works himself, renting theatres and National yet international
hiring performers, and often netting During a period when music was
a good profit. When a rival company considered ephemeral and works
provided stiff competition, Handel were seldom heard in the years
wrote a number of organ concertos after their first performances,
which he performed as interludes Handel was considered a major
during the performances. Unusual composer in his lifetime. He was
as this was, it provided a rare probably the first composer whose
opportunity to hear his great work did not suffer a fall in popularity
keyboard virtuosity in public after his death. In England, he
and was therefore something helped to broaden interest in
of a marketing masterstroke. music beyond the confines of the
The Handelian oratorio became aristocracy and created a national
so popular that Handel wrote musical identity in an international
secular works in the same style. style that lasted until Edward
He designated Semele (1744), Elgar in the late 19th century. His
which was based on classical anthem Zadok the Priest, composed Louis François Roubiliac’s memorial
to Handel stands above his tomb in
mythology, as a musical drama for the coronation of George II, is Westminster Abbey, UK. Just three
“after the manner of an oratorio” still used in the crowning of British days before his death, Handel said
and even presented it during the monarchs today. ■ that he wished to be buried there.

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