Cantata Essays

Accompanied song was cultivated in Italy in the 16th and early 17th centuries, long before the word “cantata” was common terminology. Shortly after the conception of the recitative, the cantata began to combine the monadic style with new forms and the concept of systeme tonal (or the basis for the development of equal temperament) , which began to replace the ancient modes. The cantata had its origins in the same sources as opera and oratorio. The three forms are direct descendants of the madrigals

Messiah by George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) and Cantata No. 140 “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) were both composed during the Baroque period of music. During this time period, two new genres in music were developed in Italy known as the cantata and the oratorio used in Cantata No. 140 and Messiah, respectively. Both cantata and oratorio are heavily influenced by the opera using multi-movement works such as arias, recitative, and chorus accompanied by an orchestra

of choral music, a cappella, anthem, cantata, motet and oratorio.

and as it stands Bach was only mediocre for the position. Bach only became a candidate when the post at St. Thomas had been vacant for half a year. Bach’s test cantatas were Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwolfe (BWV 22) and Du wahrer Gott und Davis Sohn (BWV 23) (Leipzig).Bach was very productive in Leipzig, from week to week he composed a new cantata, and about one-hundred such works were written in just the first two years of his time in office

These two main groups had different ways of being sung or played. Vocal music had the forms or opera which had the three different styles of seria, comique, and ballet. The other forms of vocal music were masque, oratorio, passion, cantata, mass, anthem, monody, chorale, and zarzuela. The different forms of instrumental music would be Chorale composition, Concerto grosso, Fugue, Suite with the different styles of Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Gavotte, and Minuet. The next form

continued to compose and was granted the title of court composer in Germany in 1736 by the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, Augustus III. When he died in 1750 due to health complications, Bach left behind an incredible legacy with hundreds of cantatas, canons, fugues, concertos,

twins, of the seven died in 1713. He was becoming very well known; he was always being offered to try or even just check out different organs. One new organ, in Halle, he was attracted to and offered himself as a organist. He was accepted and made a cantata on the spot. During the many years to come, Bach continued to grow in his skill, impress people, travel, and compose. In 1749, Bach had a painful disorder in his eyes; he had two surgeries and became totally blind. Ten days before he died, he regained

in the sixth concerto, Bach kept in mind the Prince’s technical limitations on the viola da gamba. Bach chose to play the viola as he preferred to be “in the middle” of the harmony. He also composed numerous cantatas for the Prince’s birthday as well as other occasions – most of these cantatas survived only in later versions and have been adapted since. (Emery & Marshall,

alcoholism than any musical ability. Beethoven's grandfather, godfather and namesake, Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven, Bonn's most prosperous and eminent musician, a source of endless pride for young Ludwig. Some of his great achievements are Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II and"first" piano concerto in C Major. Beethoven decided to publish a series

Marcellus Mass was composed by Palestrina as a sacred choral work performed purely in 6-part choirs including a soprano, an alto, two tenors, and a bass. Its texture is mixed mostly by homorhythmic and particular parts of polyphony. Compared to that of Cantata No.140 of Bach, its pure a cappella medium provides audience a deeper sense of holiness than 4-part choir with orchestra in the former. Beginning solely by an tenor singing in Latin with haunting echoes from the open space in the first line[Palestrina

period, which started from 1630 to 1680, was defined by the emergence of cantatas, Oratorio and operas. Also, composers begin to choose the instrument to the performer instead of let them choose by themselves. The late period started from 1680 to 1750. That period was defined as the era of composition that focused on the practice of basso continuo (Mandry). During that period there were an enormous legacy of opera and cantata left by great composers such as Johann Sebastian

time… Johann Sebastian Bach! Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and musician, during the Baroque period. Bach’s compositions include: the Toccata & Fugue in D minor, 2 passions, the magnificent Mass in B minor, as well as over three hundred cantatas. His music is known for its artistic beauty, its intellectual depth, and its technical command. Bach was not widely recognized as a great composer until a spark of interest in, and performances of, his music during the first half of the 19th century

“It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself” (brainyquote.com). This quote from Johann Sebastian Bach gives you an insight on his relationship with music. From a young age Bach was able to play the harpsichord, violin, and organ. He composed not only a massive amount of music, but an incredible variety as well. His work required him to compose for nearly every major genre of the era and his music still

for his operas, oratorios, and cantatas. Handel was born in Halle, Germany on February 23, 1685. Ironically, his father was very much against him pursuing his passion for music and instead strongly insisted he go into law. However, with the help of his mother, he stayed devoted, practicing and writing in secrecy. While still a child, he received a request to play for the duke’s

Musical forms and terms of the baroque era : Many of the forms associated with the baroque era are the opera, the oratorio, the cantata, the concerto, the sonata and the suite. The opera is a drama primarily sang accompanied by instruments and presented on stage. It typically alternates between recitative, speech like song that advances the plot, and aries, songs in which characters express feelings at particular points in their action. The oratorio is an extended musical drama with a text

escape the Franco-Prussian War. He showed that he was a gifted pianist and was able to enter the Paris Conservatory in 1873 to study piano and composition when he was 10. Claude never went to regular school. He won the Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata L’Enfant produgue (The Prodigal Child) in 1884. By winning the 1884 Prix de Rome he received a scholarship to the Académie des Beaux-Arts. He found that while studying there the Italian opera was not for him. Sometimes he was a depressed person and

believe that Bach is a great composer due to the fact that the beauty of his music was “beyond his time and place.” McClary’s article not only proposed an unorthodox statement, but makes very concrete examples out of his Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 and Cantata 140 to support it. She accomplished what she wanted by having me, the reader, change the reasons why I believed his music was great. Because of this, I certainly believe this article is worth a read by other self proclaimed

I like baroque music because it’s a different type of music that I never heard in my lifetime. One of the key ideas in Baroque music comes from the Renaissance attention in thoughts from ancient Greece and Rome. In 1605, the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi really defined a first and second practice: The first was the harmony and counterpoint that took preference over the text and the second one was the need to prompt the importance of the words vanquished any other fear. In the baroque period

G. F. Handel and J.S Bach were both composers who were born in Germany. Bach came from a family with a rich musical background, while Handel did not (Kamien, pg 143). The compositions of Handel and Bach, Messiah and Wachet Auf, both have a religious context and include the ritornello technique. As for the texture of these compositions, both are characterized by a polyphonic and imitative texture. Additionally, string instruments are used in Messiah and Wachet Auf. Handel is famous for his English

European art music from about 1600 to 1750. Baroque music was originally created in Italy, and included the cantata, concerto, sonata, oratorio and opera. A concerto, for example, was a composition that brought together a diverse group of voices, and instruments. The sacred work of voices and instruments are what is known as a concerto, while many similar works were generally called arias, or cantatas. These concertos can be mainly found in the works of Claudio Monteverdi. Monteverdi served as a musical