April 17th, 2009
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born January 27, 1756 and died December 5, 1791. Most anyone has heard of his name although they might not be able to put any of his music to it. He was and always will be one of the most extraordinary composers in our history. He wrote well over 500 symphonies alone. As well as numerous other pieces including operas, concertos and more.
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Tags: classical era, classical music, Mozart, opera
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March 27th, 2009
Immediately following the climax of the piece is Adam and Eve realizing their duty upon the Earth and what God has intended them to do. They pledge their obedience to the Lord and are happy to do so. Still, though, they disobey their god. Haydn expresses their mischievousness through playful violins on sixteenth notes. Yet, although they had not been as loyal as they had told their Lord this number is consistently pleasant sounding in a major key. It is not until Uriel’s recite in number thirty-two does the realization of what Adam and Eve had done hits the audience. However, this recite is short and followed up by the chorus in a glorious prayer exclaiming, “Let His name resound on high. Jehovah’s praise for ever shall endure. Amen.”
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Tags: bible, chorus, german, haydn
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March 23rd, 2009
Part three deserves this entire section of the piece all to itself. The story of Adam and Eve is spread throughout Christianity from its basic tales to lore to the explanation of why man is sinful from birth. The story of the Creation could not be told without this part for it also shows the creation of our faith and the start of our society as a whole. Adam and Eve even try to answer the question that man has been asking why we were put on the Earth. “God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (The Holy Bible, Genesis 2:15).
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Tags: bible, chorus, haydn, orchestra
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March 19th, 2009
The part two begins with “The fourth day…” on number fifteen when, “God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth… And God blessed them, saying , Be fruitful , and multiply , and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth” (The Holy Bible, Genesis 1:19 – 1:22). Uriel has a fantastic melody singing of the birds flying over the ocean and the earth. It begins with the orchestra soaring the audience through the air on the back of a great and mighty bird. One can almost feel the ocean underneath the mighty wings.
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Tags: bible, chorus, haydn, orchestra, sacred music
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March 17th, 2009
Number two of the first part entitled “In the Beginning” introduces the narrators of the oratorio as Raphael and Uriel in the tenor voices. Both of them are part of the four head archangels (Singer). Raphael is not mentioned directly in the Bible but rather he is found in the “Book of Tobia”. He is also referred to as and St. Raphael (Discoll). Uriel is the archangel of earthquakes and thunder and is also referred to as the “Glory of God” or the “Light of God”. Ultimately he is the divine messenger that warns the end of the world (Singer).
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Tags: chorus, classical era, haydn, orchestra, vocals
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