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HANDEL
George Frideric Handel
(1685-1759) was born
in Germany and
moved to England
in 1712. He
composed music
for the English
royal family
and wrote
many famous
choral works.BAROQUE MUSIC
The music of the 17th and early
18th centuries was called Baroque,
after the elaborate architectural
styles popular in the same
period. It is complex music in
which the instruments weave
their melodies in and out
like threads in a rich,
colorful tapestry.BACH
The greatest of the Baroque composers
was Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
of Germany. The Brandenburg Concertos,
which he completed in 1721, are among
his best-known works.AN AUTHOR CREATING A STORY has a choice of
more than a hundred thousand words made up from the
26 letters of the alphabet. With only the 12 notes of
the chromatic scale—the notes on the piano from any
C to the next C above—a composer can make an infinite
variety of music of many different styles. These can include
jazz, folk, pop, or what is known as classical music.
Composers learn their craft through writing exercises
in harmony and counterpoint. Harmony is placing the
main tune on the top line with chords (three or more
notes sounding together) in support; counterpoint isplacing the principal theme in any position with other tunes weaving around
it. Composers also discover what instruments can or cannot do, what they
sound like, and how to explore their capabilities. The best way to learn all
this is to study the music of many
composers. Great composers
move audiences to tears of joy
or sadness with their talent
for expressing emotion
through music.PURCELL
English composer Henry Purcell
(1659-95) sang in the King’s Chapel
in London (above) when he was a
boy. At the age of 20, he became
the organist at Westminster Abbey,
London. He composed beautiful
chamber music and dramatic
operas, such as Dido and Aeneas.Many composers like to
write music sitting at the
piano, so that they can
play the tunes as they
work on them.Composers 136-
HOW COMPOSERS WORK
Most composers begin by either
inventing themes or melodies
that are developed for one or
more instruments, or by setting
words for one or more voices.
Sometimes, as with operas and
choral works, both voices and
instruments are used. Blending
them together so that all are
heard clearly is a skilled job.
The music is written out in a
score. A symphony can last
up to an hour, or an opera up
to three hours, so composing
can be hard work.
Handel wrote one
of his most famous
pieces of music to
accompany a royal
fireworks display in 1749.Each member of the orchestra
uses a line of the score showing
only the music for his or her
individual instrument.Composers
of orchestral
music write a
complete score,
which includes
the instrumental
parts played by
every section of
the orchestra.In the 15th century,
beautiful colored pictures
decorated the margins of
composers’ works.