An Outline of The History of Western Music Grout ... - The Reel Score

5. Summary
a) Bach's works were quickly forgotten after his death because musical taste
changed radically in the middle of the 18th century
(1) Composing his most important works in the 1720's & 30's at the same time a
new style emanating from the opera houses of Italy invaded Germany and the
rest of Europe making Bach's music seem "old fashioned"
(2) This eclipse in the mid 18th century was not total and citations from his works
appeared frequently in the musical literature of the time - the important
periodical "Allegeine musikalische Zeitung" opened its first issue with a Bach
portrait
(3) A fuller discovery of Bach finally began in the 19th century
i) a biography by Johann Nikolaus Forkel in 1802
ii) revival of St. Matthew Passion by Carl Friedrich Zelter (1758-1832) and its
performance in Berlin under Felix Mendelssohn in 1829
iii) the establishment of the Bach Society in 1850 led to the collection edition of
his works - completed in 1900
b) Bach occupied a central position in music history - absorbing into his works all the
genres, styles, and forms of his time
E. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
1. Background
a) won international renown during his lifetime and continued to be revered for his
oratorios and operas
(1) composed his first opera "Almira" at 19 - it was performed at the Hamburg
opera house in 1705
(2) lived in Italy between 1706 and 1710 employed by the Marquis Francesco
Ruspoli as a musician/composer in Rome and at his country estates
(3) enjoyed a long and prosperous career in London from 1710 composing for
the Royal Academy of Music (under the King's patronage)
i) a rival organization the Opera of the Nobility became a chief rival -
generating a financially ruinous competion and both were nearly bankrupt
by 1737
ii) he turned to oratoriaos when the public would not support the Italian opera
(4) he became a naturalized British subject in 1726
b) The oratorios presented every year during Lent were performed to the English
publics enthusiastic response - laying the foundation for the immense popularity
that made Handel's music the prevailing influence on English musical life for more
than a century
2. Music
a) Suite & Sonatas - the suites contain not only the usual dance movements but also
examples of the most current keyboard genres of the time
b) Concertos - his most significant instrumental works are for full orchestra - above all
the Oboe Concertos and the 12 Grand Concertos
c) Opera - devoted 35 years to composing and promoting operas - at the end of his
career turning more and more to the fashionable light melodic manner of the
"modern" Italian composers
d) Oratorios