MUSIC 140A Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Johann Christoph Pepusch, Oratorio, Melisma
Document Summary
Italian opera was one of england"s major imports. Handel introduced his first italian opera to england in 1711. Ballad opera - popular tunes worked into a story about common folk who poked fun at the pretensions of upper class. The beggar"s opera (1728) - text by john gay, arr. Pickpockets, prostitutes, jailbirds: ridiculed pomposity of italian opera and political party in power. Handel created english oratorio - musical entertainment on a sacred subject (usually biblical) puts together solo recitative and aria of italian opera with rich passages for full chorus. Handel might"ve planned to stage them, but bishop of london ruled it profanation of sacred subjects. Great success in dublin, failed in london. Prologue reviews major old testament prophecies about coming of messiah. Second part shows christ"s suffering, rejection, resurrection, ascent to heaven, Identifies christ with the long-awaited messiah triumph of christianity on earth. Third part is epilogue, promise of eternal life. Musical forms used: recitatives, arias (songs), choruses.
