Listening Journal: Handel's Messiah and Bach's Cantata

This is a listening journal entry that compares and contrasts two significant pieces of Baroque music: Handel's Messiah and Bach's Cantata No. 140, 'Wachet Auf.' The journal reflects on the initial performances of both works, noting the impact of Handel's Messiah and the attention Bach's cantata received during his time in Leipzig. The analysis highlights similarities in their use of SATB choirs and soloists, as well as shared instrumentation like violins, violas, oboes, and continuo. The journal also points out differences in instrumentation, such as the use of timpani and trumpets in Messiah versus the taille, horn, and violin piccolo in Bach's cantata. Additionally, it notes the historical context of each piece, including Mozart's revision of Messiah and Bach's cantata being written for a specific Sunday service.

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Listening journal 1
G.F Handel messiah was first performed musick Hall in Dublin on 1742. The superstar status of
Handel was made a glimpse in the industry, and after hearing the music the men and women feel
mesmerized. On the other hand, Bach cantata caught attention in the golden Leipzig period by its
melodies and hymn tune composition.
After listening J. S. Bach's Cantata No. 140 Wachet Auf and G. F. Handel's Messiah, I noticed
that there persist a similarity in the context of their first performance. Messiah was first
performed on April 13, 1972, and Canada NO.140 Wachet Auf gave his first performance on 25
November 1731.
The differences are very few in both the pieces. Firstly in the piece of Messiah there aware 53
movements which are divided into three parts and in Bach Canata, there are only seven
movements. (Shrock,,2017).they both used a SATB choir and solo, but in the Bach pieces they
used soprao, bass, and tenor. Secondly, they both use violins, viola, oboes, and continuo.
They differ with the instruments in the way in Messiah, they tried to use timpani and trumpets,
and in Bach piece of music, he uses taile, horn and violin piccolo.In the last, the thing I found
interesting about Messiah that it was a revised and amplified by Mozart and the piece written by
Bach was made for the Sunday 27 that was after Trinity.
References:
Shrock, D. (2017). Choral Monuments: Studies of Eleven Choral Masterworks. Oxford University Press.