BaroqueEra

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Baroque Era
Handel’s “Messiah” is a typical example of a musical composition from the Baroque era. The Baroque era is a musical age spanning the years between 1600 to 1750 AD. Musical scholars of the nineteenth century regarded the music as unnecessarily ornamented and exaggerated. It is probably for this reason that the era was so named since the name’s origin is the word “Barocco” which means “oddly shaped pearl.” These musical scholar’s distaste stemmed from their comparison to music from earlier eras, which had a more even tone, and followed a specific composition structure throughout.
My preference of this particular piece by Handel, here performed by the Royal Choral Society, stems from a couple of reasons. The first is the thematic presence of the composition. It alludes to a religious origin, with the title, “Hallelujah” meaning “Praise the Lord,” and “Messiah” refers to Jesus Christ. Being a religious person, I easily relate and appreciate the work, since not many composers explored religion in their work. Music was deemed to be a contradiction of faith. Today, however, music is a centerpiece of religion. Handel’s work is a testament to his liberal nature, despite living in an age in which such contradictions were not always appreciated.
The second musical element that results in my preference is the melody in the composition. The various voices interact harmoniously to provide a melody that is both startling and soothing at the same time.

There is a perfect balance at the transitions from the softer melodies to the harder ones, and vice versa. It is not a simple fete to accomplish.
Handel’s “Hallelujah” is a typical example of music from the Baroque era. It was during this era that composers explored the communicative power of music, and this composition is an example of that. Moreover, the contrast creates a dramatic effect. This variation is one of the unique identifiers of the Baroque era (Bukofzer 345).
Though music from the era was not appreciated in the nineteenth century, it is regarded highly by musicians and the public today. Handel’s piece is an excellent example of why that is the case.
Work Cited
Bukofzer, Manfred. Music in The Baroque Era – From Monteverdi To Bach. Worcestershire: Read Books Limited, 2013. Print.