Comparing Handel And Bach
Two amazing composers of the Baroque period of music were Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. Although both produced much well-loved and well-played music, and although both were born in Germany, they were very different people. United by their faith, they still differ in many areas. Their lives, careers, and styles will now be compared, and their similarities and differences brought out.
Both Handel and Bach were Germans, and were both born relatively close to the same time. However, their childhoods were very different. Handel, pushed by his father to be a lawyer, had to fight to learn music. However, he was allowed to study music, and eventually traveled to Hamburg, Italy and then to England, where he spent the rest of his life. Bach, however, a native German his whole life, was …show more content…
surrounded by people who appreciated music, as music seemed to run in the family. A similarity between the two men was their faith. Both were Christians, and their faith can be seen in their music. Bach’s music, however, was defined by his faith, and often he wrote “Soli Deo Gloria,” “To God Alone the Glory,” on his music. Another way the two men can be compared is in their personalities. Bach was persistent, and did not fall under hard circumstances. At one point in his life, he was ready to move from one employer to a new one. His old employer, however, was not happy with this idea, and put Bach under house arrest or in prison. Bach, however, made use of this time to compose …. Handel, a man with a temper, did not like being restricted in his music. He enjoyed having freedom. However, Handel was also generous, and Bach’s home was also filled with love. Finally, both composers produced much music which is still being enjoyed today.
The careers of Bach and Handel are an area where there is less similarity. To begin with, Handel ended up first in Hamburg, then in Italy, and finally in England, where he composed much music. Bach, however, lived and composed in Germany. He was an organist, composer, and choir director at various times, and really loved the organ. Handel, however, became well known in the opera business, and composed many works for the public. Bach was employed at courts and churches in Germany, while Handel worked for people such as, the Elector of Hanover, the royalty, and opera companies. Bach, although he composed many wonderful pieces of music, was not as well-thought of as a composer. Instead, he was known for his organ playing. On the other hand, Handel was a well-known composer, and when he died he was buried with honors in England.
Finally, the music that these composers wrote must be compared.
Bach wrote much religious music, although he did write non-sacred works, as well. Although Handel did write religious music, this was not his sole focus, and he produced much music for the royalty and opera. Both, however, composed oratorios, which are works based on religious events, and are similar to an opera, but without acting or costumes. One of Handel’s best known oratorios is The Messiah, and some of Bach’s are The St. Matthew Passion and The St. John Passion. Both also produced instrumental music. Both Handel and Bach were influenced by the Italian style through another composer Arcangelo Corelli. Thus they both had a German and Italian influence in their music. Handel was also influenced by other nationalities, such as English, and possibly French. The techniques used in their music were different. Bach was focused on details in music, and thus his music is very complex. Handel was more focused on the overall impression produced by his music. In addition, he used lots of contrasts in his music. The music of Bach incorporated both unity and diversity. According to Jane Stuart Smith and Betty
Carlson,
"Bach’s ideal was both unity and diversity. His desire was to create unity with diversity n whatever he produced, and he found ways to tie together even the separate parts of a collection, most often by the use of familiar hymn tunes" (Smith and Carlson 33). Thus, both Handel and Bach had their own individual styles in their music.
To conclude, both Bach and Handel were great composers during the Baroque period, who were born close to each other, both in distance and time. However, their childhood exposure to music was very different, and the path their musical careers took was also different. In their music, they employed different techniques, and focused on different genres. However, their lives and styles did overlap in some areas, especially in the fact that their music was influenced by their faith in the one true God. In addition, both composers produced much beautiful music which is still be appreciated today, and some of which still carries the message of Christ in it.
"Handel, indeed, may be spoken of as a citizen of the world, whereas Bach remained in Germany all his life. Yet under the hand of God both men were great composers. It should be an encouragement to all of us to be creative with what we have where we are"(Smith and Carlson 41).
Both Handel and Bach were Germans, and were both born relatively close to the same time. However, their childhoods were very different. Handel, pushed by his father to be a lawyer, had to fight to learn music. However, he was allowed to study music, and eventually traveled to Hamburg, Italy and then to England, where he spent the rest of his life. Bach, however, a native German his whole life, was …show more content…
surrounded by people who appreciated music, as music seemed to run in the family. A similarity between the two men was their faith. Both were Christians, and their faith can be seen in their music. Bach’s music, however, was defined by his faith, and often he wrote “Soli Deo Gloria,” “To God Alone the Glory,” on his music. Another way the two men can be compared is in their personalities. Bach was persistent, and did not fall under hard circumstances. At one point in his life, he was ready to move from one employer to a new one. His old employer, however, was not happy with this idea, and put Bach under house arrest or in prison. Bach, however, made use of this time to compose …. Handel, a man with a temper, did not like being restricted in his music. He enjoyed having freedom. However, Handel was also generous, and Bach’s home was also filled with love. Finally, both composers produced much music which is still being enjoyed today.
The careers of Bach and Handel are an area where there is less similarity. To begin with, Handel ended up first in Hamburg, then in Italy, and finally in England, where he composed much music. Bach, however, lived and composed in Germany. He was an organist, composer, and choir director at various times, and really loved the organ. Handel, however, became well known in the opera business, and composed many works for the public. Bach was employed at courts and churches in Germany, while Handel worked for people such as, the Elector of Hanover, the royalty, and opera companies. Bach, although he composed many wonderful pieces of music, was not as well-thought of as a composer. Instead, he was known for his organ playing. On the other hand, Handel was a well-known composer, and when he died he was buried with honors in England.
Finally, the music that these composers wrote must be compared.
Bach wrote much religious music, although he did write non-sacred works, as well. Although Handel did write religious music, this was not his sole focus, and he produced much music for the royalty and opera. Both, however, composed oratorios, which are works based on religious events, and are similar to an opera, but without acting or costumes. One of Handel’s best known oratorios is The Messiah, and some of Bach’s are The St. Matthew Passion and The St. John Passion. Both also produced instrumental music. Both Handel and Bach were influenced by the Italian style through another composer Arcangelo Corelli. Thus they both had a German and Italian influence in their music. Handel was also influenced by other nationalities, such as English, and possibly French. The techniques used in their music were different. Bach was focused on details in music, and thus his music is very complex. Handel was more focused on the overall impression produced by his music. In addition, he used lots of contrasts in his music. The music of Bach incorporated both unity and diversity. According to Jane Stuart Smith and Betty
Carlson,
"Bach’s ideal was both unity and diversity. His desire was to create unity with diversity n whatever he produced, and he found ways to tie together even the separate parts of a collection, most often by the use of familiar hymn tunes" (Smith and Carlson 33). Thus, both Handel and Bach had their own individual styles in their music.
To conclude, both Bach and Handel were great composers during the Baroque period, who were born close to each other, both in distance and time. However, their childhood exposure to music was very different, and the path their musical careers took was also different. In their music, they employed different techniques, and focused on different genres. However, their lives and styles did overlap in some areas, especially in the fact that their music was influenced by their faith in the one true God. In addition, both composers produced much beautiful music which is still be appreciated today, and some of which still carries the message of Christ in it.
"Handel, indeed, may be spoken of as a citizen of the world, whereas Bach remained in Germany all his life. Yet under the hand of God both men were great composers. It should be an encouragement to all of us to be creative with what we have where we are"(Smith and Carlson 41).