The Baroque: Chorus Music

The Baroque – Part 3 Handel, unlike many other musicians during the Baroque period, was not born into a musical family. His parents actually had the wish for him to become a lawyer. Handel becoming a musician means that he had defied his family. Being a musician then as well as in any time-period posed as a profession which was insecure. This would be unless one could find an impressive position in the court or at church. Handel uses choral music to express a conflict through word-painting and the expressions of those performing with him. He also has a wonderful melodic gift. Handel creates expansive, tuneful, seemingly effortless music that makes the listeners speechless. Although his works during the Cannons period have some flaws, he
Bach was born in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany, from a family of musicians, whose bloodline stretched back several generations. His father, Johann Ambrosius had worked as the town musician in Eisenach, and taught young Johann to play the violin. At seven years old, Bach went to school where he studied Latin and many other subjects. His Lutheran faith would further influence the progression of his musical works. Right around the corner at 10 years old, Bach found himself an orphan after the death of both of his parents. His older brother Johann Christoph took him in. His brother was a church organist in Ohrdruf,
After aging a bit, his voice changed and instead of being kicked out he alternated his talent and played the violin and the harpsichord. In 1703, he landed his first job as a musician at the court of Duke Johann Ernst in Weimar. There he served as a violinist and at times, filled in for the official organist. Later on, he began working for Duke Wilhelm Ernst in Weimar, where he wrote many church cantatas and possibly some of his best compositions for the organ while working for the duke. Some-time later, while working at St. Thomas Church, he was required to teach at the school as a part of his organist position as well. With new music needed for services each week, Bach turned to writing cantatas. When compared to Handel, Bach did not write operas; although he had an instinct to create drama. This is shown through many of the oratorios that he wrote. Handel is very unique for the operas in which he explores the psychological progress of his characters through