Handel Essays - Operas, George Frideric Handel, Opera Seria, Messiah

Handel George Friedrich Handel was one of the most accomplished Baroque composers in his time. Born in Halle, Germany in 1685, he was the son of a wealthy barber who wanted his son to become a lawyer. However, he displayed such musical aptitude with the harpsichord, organ, oboe, counterpoint and fugue, he became an assistant with Friedrich Zachav, organist of the cathedral of Halle. However, Handel entered the University of Halle, but quickly withdrew, and left for the University of Hamburg, to study music. In 1706, Handel journeyed to Italy to further enhance his music. While there, he was greatly influenced by Alessandro Scarlatti and Arcangelo Corelli. Then in 1710, Handel was appointed "Kapellmeister," or Musical Director, to the Elector of Hanover, and received a commission to write an opera for London. Italian opera was all the rage in London, and Handel's soon became a quick success. However, Handel greatly longed for being in England, and returned in 1712. London provided a generous audience for Handel, and from 1712 to 1741 he produced thirty-six operas. In 1713, Te Deum and a Jubilate was performed by Handel at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, to celebrate the Peace of Utrecht. Queen Anne also granted Handel a handsome lifetime pension of two hundred pounds per year. Including Water Music, for George I, which was first performed in 1715 on the Thames at London. While most of Handel's operas were based on either historical, mythological, or legendary subjects, Serse, was one of his rare endeavors into comedy. Handel's operas were all sung in Italian, and adhere to the musical conventions of the day. There is little use of choruses or large ensembles, since one of the main objectives of this genre, called ?opera seria,' is the demonstration of vocal ability by individual singers. Also, for 18th century audiences, the main attraction in Handel's operas lay in the incredible feats of the ?castrati,' male singers whose soprano voices had been surgically preserved from childhood. These artists combined the soprano voices of women and the lung power of men, producing singers whose vocal feats became legendary. In England, Handel tried to start opera companies on a number of occasions, but these attempts to become a music executive failed miserably. On account the gradual decline in popularity of Italian opera in England, Handel turned to writing oratorios, which became the preferred taste. These works, sung in English, take their texts from the Bible. Handel's most famous oratorio, his best-known work in any genre, is Messiah, written in 1742. In addition to operas and oratorios, he wrote passions, secular choral pieces, anthems, cantatas, chamber sonatas, harpsichord suites, concerti, and orchestral pieces. Beyond composition, Handel was the first the real businessman in the world of music. He had a hand in organizing opera companies, obtaining financial support, and finding singers. He was also in constant demand at parties where he entertained guests with his lusty personality and exceptional abilities the keyboard. Of all composers, Handel was probably the most esteemed and appreciated in his own time. He rose to a position of the highest eminence in the musical world. His oratorios were the toast of the country, and of the continent as well. Toward the end of his life, Handel was plagued by ill health. From 1753, he was totally blind, though this did not stop his activities altogether. He died in 1759, and was buried with full state honors in Westminster Abbey. Bibliography "Classics World Biography: George Frederich Handel." 1997:Online. Internet. October 4 1998. Available WWW: http:://classicalmus.com/composers/handel.html Brimhall, John. My Favorite Classics. Miami Beach, FL.: Chas. H. Hansen Music Corp., 1969. "Handel, George Frideric." The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia. 1995.

An Overview of Facts About the U.S. Constitution

An Overview of Facts About the U.S. Constitution The U.S. Constitution was written at the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, and signed on September 17, 1787. It was ratified in 1789. The document established our nations fundamental laws and government structures and ensured basic rights for American citizens.   Preamble The preamble to the Constitution alone is one of the most important pieces of writing in American history. It sets up the basic principles of our democracy, and introduces the concept of federalism. It reads:   We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Quick Facts The nickname for the U.S. Constitution is Bundle of Compromises.The Chief Draftsmen of the U.S. Constitution is  James Madison and Gouverneur Morris.The ratification of the U.S. Constitution happened in 1789 with the agreement of 9 out of 13 states. Eventually, all 13 would ratify the US Constitution. Overall Structure of the U.S. Constitution There are seven articles followed by 27 amendments.  The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.The U.S. Constitution is currently considered the shortest governing document of any nation.The U.S. Constitution was organized secretly, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries. Key Principles Separation of Powers:  An act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies.Checks and Balances:  Counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.Federalism:  Federalism is the sharing of power between national and state governments. In America, the states existed first and they had the challenge of creating a national government. Ways to Amend the U.S. Constitution Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state conventions (never used)Proposal by convention of states, ratification by state legislatures (never used)Proposal by Congress, ratification by state conventions (used once)Proposal by Congress, ratification by state legislatures (used all other times) Proposing and Ratifying Amendments To propose an amendment, two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to propose and amendment. Another way is to have two-thirds  of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention.To ratify an amendment, three-fourths of the state legislatures approve it. The second way is for three-fourths of ratifying conventions in states approve it. Interesting Constitutional Facts Only 12 of the 13 original states actually took part in writing the US Constitution.Rhode Island did not attend the Constitutional Convention, though they eventually were the last state to ratify the document in year 1790.Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention at the age of 81-years-old. Jonathon Dayton of New Jersey was the youngest in attendance at just 26-years-old.Over 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress. Only 27 have been ratified.  The Constitution contains several misspellings, including the misspelling of Pennsylvania as Pensylvania.