Download Student Sheet

Area of Study 1: Musical Forms and Devices
For Unto Us a Child is Born – Student Sheet
Taken from the oratorio Messiah
Music by George Frideric Handel
The structure of this piece is based on three musical ideas, each of which repeats more than
once:
A
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.
B
And the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called:
C
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Messiah was composed in 1741 with a sacred text compiled from the King James
Bible and from the version of the Psalms included within the Book of Common
Prayer. It is an extended reflection on the life of Jesus Christ. The text begins in
Part I with prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to the annunciation to the
shepherds, the only scene taken from the Gospels. In Part II, Handel concentrates
on the Passion and ends with the Hallelujah chorus. In Part III he covers the
resurrection of the dead and Christ’s glorification in heaven.
Messiah was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London
premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the work
gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most
frequently performed choral works in Western music. Handel wrote Messiah for
modest vocal and instrumental forces, however in the years after his death the work
was adapted for performance on a much larger scale, with giant orchestras and
choirs. In other efforts to update it, its orchestration was revised and amplified by
(among others) Mozart. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the trend has been
towards reproducing authentic performances more in line with Handel’s original
intentions, although many large-scale productions continue to be mounted.
Area of Study 1: Musical Forms and Devices
For Unto Us a Child is Born – Student Sheet
1) What is the time signature of this piece? (Underline one).
4/4 (four crotchet beats per bar)
12/8 (twelve quaver beats per bar)
3/4 (three crotchet beats per bar) 9/8 (nine quaver beats per bar)
2) Which statement about the orchestration of the piece is most accurate?
The orchestra consists mostly of string instruments
The orchestra consists mostly of woodwind instruments
The orchestra consists mostly of brass instruments
3) Identify the tonality of this piece.
MinorMajor
4) Identify an ornament heard in the melody.
.........................................................................................................................................
5) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) uses mostly dotted rhythms?
ABC
6) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) contains the loudest dynamic?
ABC
7) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) makes extensive use of melisma (a single syllable
moving between different notes)?
ABC
Area of Study 1: Musical Forms and Devices
For Unto Us a Child is Born – Student Sheet
8) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) consistently ends with a perfect cadence (chord
progression V – I)?
ABC
9) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) makes use of ascending and descending scales?
ABC
10) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) makes use of sequences (the restatement of an
idea at a higher or lower pitch)?
ABC
11) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) employs a homophonic texture (melody and
chordal accompaniment)?
ABC
12) Which section of the piece (A, B or C) contains violins moving in thirds?
ABC
Total ...... / 12