Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Would you like to know more about Handel’s music, but are too busy to devote a lot of time to it? Handel is a major composer from the baroque period. Best known for the iconic Messiah oratorio, he influenced composers as diverse as Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Chopin. Keep reading to explore Handel’s captivating music in less than four minutes.
How to use the videos:
- Listen to 10 seconds of each piece.
- Usually this will be enough for you to tell if you want to listen to more.
- That way you can vet all the pieces in under a minute.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Exploring Handel's Music: Who Was He?
Before we start exploring Handel’s music directly, let’s briefly look at who he was:
- He was a German composer who studied in Italy and worked in England.
- He composed his music during the 1700s (the Baroque Period), which featured harpsichord, figured bass, and small orchestras (smaller than you’d find during the Classical and Romantic Periods).
- His early studies were at the University of Halle, but his visit to Italy was a formative experience for him, so that he mainly composed in the Italian style.
Despite being principally known today for his oratorio Messiah, during his life he was mainly an opera composer.
Exploring Handel's Music: What Was His Music Like?
Here’s a quick guide to his music broken down by genre:
Oratorio
An oratorio is like a religious themed opera, but without the staging or costumes. He wrote twenty-four oratorios, but by far the best known is the Messiah.
Popular Works Today:
- Messiah
- Israel in Egypt
- Samson
Video: Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)
Concerto Grosso
A concerto grosso is a “big concerto” and is a work for soloists and the baroque orchestra. Handel composed 12 concerti grossi.
Popular Works Today:
- Music for the Royal Fireworks (Allegro)
- Concerto grosso Op. 6
- Concerto grosso in B-flat major
Video: Music for the Royal Fireworks
Organ Concerto
Later in his career, Handel was desperate to get audiences back into the concert hall to see his operas and oratorios. It occurred to him that he could use his status as a virtuoso organist to draw in the crowds. He specially wrote the Organ Concerto in F Major, Op. 4 for this purpose.
Popular Works Today:
- Organ Concerto, Op. 4
- Organ Concerto, Op. 7
Video: Organ Concerto
Opera
Opera was a popular musical theatre event in Handel’s day, and he wrote forty operas during his lifetime. In addition, he was constantly revising his operas and other music in an attempt to combat the rampant plagiarism of the time.
Popular Works Today:
- Giulio Cesare
- Rodelinda
- Tamerlano
Video: Giulio Cesare
Cantata
Originally, a cantata was just a piece to be sung. Later, cantatas grew in compositions for voice and orchestra of which he wrote 120.
Popular Works Today:
- O Numi Eterni
- Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno
- Cantata Apollo e Dafne
Video: O Numi Eterni
Final Thoughts on “Explore Handel's Captivating Music in Less Than Four Minutes”
In summary:
- From the opulence of opera to the complexity of the concerto grosso, Handel’s music spans the centuries.
- It continues to captivate concert goers around the world with the intricacy of baroque polyphony.
- Now that you’ve explored Handel’s music in less than four minutes, you can watch the videos to see which Handel selection is your favorite.
Have fun listening!
Related Posts
- Explore Mozart’s Enchanting Music in Less Than Four Minutes
- Why Did Beethoven Keep Composing After Suffering Deafness?
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
© 2024 Geoffrey Keith
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