Music Appreciation: Bach to Baroque with Handel

Well we are getting ready to move on from J.S. Bach and look into another exciting Baroque composer. Before we move on, I wanted to share this modern take and arrangement on Bach's "Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1: Prelude."  Enjoy the beautiful warm timbre of the Cello.

  

Music Vocabulary: TIMBRE & ORATORIO

tim-bre: Noun
Timbre is the unique quality of an instrument's sound; its "voice."

Timbre describes the difference between two tones played in the same pitch and volume. For example, timbre is what you observe when you decipher a piano from a guitar; or an acoustic guitar from an electric.

This week we will begin study on George Frideric Handel, well known for his oratorio, the "Messiah." 

What is an oratorio? An oratorio is a large musical composition that includes the orchestra, choir and and soloists. Very similar to opera, except opera is musical theater and oratorio's are strictly for concert purposes. 

Messiah an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text collected and taken from the King James Bible, and from the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer, which we use in our chapel services here at school!

We will listen to portions of this composition this week in class!