Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (Handel)
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''Ode for St. Cecilia's Day'' ( HWV 76) is a
cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning of ...
composed by
George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...
in
1739 Events January–March * January 1 – Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier, in the South Atlantic Ocean. * January 3: A 7.6 earthquake shakes the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ...
. The title of the cantata refers to
Saint Cecilia Saint Cecilia ( la, Sancta Caecilia), also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman virgin martyr and is venerated in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Church, Orthodox, Anglican Communion, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden. She b ...
, the patron saint of musicians. The premiere was on 22 November 1739 at the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.


Words

Handel sets a poem which the English poet
John Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the per ...
wrote in 1687. The main theme of the text is the
Pythagorean Pythagorean, meaning of or pertaining to the ancient Ionian mathematician, philosopher, and music theorist Pythagoras, may refer to: Philosophy * Pythagoreanism, the esoteric and metaphysical beliefs purported to have been held by Pythagoras * Ne ...
theory of ''harmonia mundi'', that music was a central force in the Earth's creation.


Music

Ebenezer Prout Ebenezer Prout (1 March 1835 – 5 December 1909) was an English musical theorist, writer, music teacher and composer, whose instruction, afterwards embodied in a series of standard works still used today, underpinned the work of many British cl ...
has commented on various facets of Handel's instrumentation in the work and Edmund Bowles has written on Handel's use of timpani in the work.


Movements

#
Overture Overture (from French ''ouverture'', "opening") in music was originally the instrumental introduction to a ballet, opera, or oratorio in the 17th century. During the early Romantic era, composers such as Beethoven and Mendelssohn composed overt ...
: ''Larghetto e staccato—allegro—minuet'' #
Recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repea ...
(
tenor A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...
): ''From harmony, from heavenly harmony'' #
Chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
: ''From harmony, from heavenly harmony'' #
Aria In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...
(
soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261  Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...
): ''What passion cannot music raise and quell!'' # Aria (tenor) and Chorus: ''The trumpet's loud clangour'' # March # Aria (soprano): ''The soft complaining flute'' # Aria (tenor): ''Sharp violins proclaim their jealous pangs'' # Aria (soprano): ''But oh! What art can teach'' # Aria (soprano): ''Orpheus could lead the savage race'' # Recitative (soprano): ''But bright Cecilia raised the wonder higher'' # Grand Chorus with (soprano): ''As from the power of sacred lays''


Texts


From Harmony (Recit)

TENOR: From harmony, from heavenly harmony This universal frame began. When nature, underneath a heap Of jarring atoms lay, And could not heave her head. The tuneful Voice, was heard from high, Arise! Arise! Arise ye more than dead! Then cold, and hot, and moist, and dry, In order to their stations leap! And music's power obey! And music's power obey!


From Harmony (Chorus)

CHORUS: From harmony, from heavenly harmony, This universal frame began. Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing full in man.


What Passion Cannot Music Raise and Quell

SOPRANO: What passion cannot music raise, and quell? When Jubal struck the chorded shell, His listening brethren stood 'round. And wondering on their faces fell, To worship that celestial sound! Less than a god they thought there could not dwell Within the hollow of that shell That spoke so sweetly and so well. What passion cannot Music raise and quell?


The Trumpet's Loud Clangour

TENOR: The trumpet's loud clangour excites us to arms, With shrill notes of anger and mortal alarms, The double-double-double beat, Of the thund'ring drum, Cries hark! Hark! Cries hark the foes come! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! 'Tis too late, 'tis too late to retreat! Charge 'tis too late, too late to retreat!


The Soft Complaining Flute

SOPRANO: The soft complaining flute In dying notes discovers The woes of hopeless lovers, Whose dirge is whispered by the warbling lute.


Sharp Violins Proclaim

TENOR: Sharp violins proclaim, Their jealous pangs, And desperation! Fury, frantic indignation! Depth of pains, and height of passion, For the fair disdainful dame!


But Oh! What Art Can Teach

SOPRANO: But oh! what art can teach, What human voice can reach The sacred organ's praise? Notes inspiring holy love, Notes that wing their heavenly ways To join the choirs above.


Orpheus Could Lead The Savage Race

SOPRANO: Orpheus could lead the savage race, And trees uprooted left their place Sequacious of the lyre: But bright Cecilia raised the wonder higher: When to her Organ vocal breath was given An Angel heard, and straight appeared – Mistaking Earth for Heaven.


As From The Power Of Sacred Lays

SOPRANO: As from the power of sacred lays The spheres began to move, And sung the great Creator's praise To all the blest above; So when the last and dreadful hour This crumbling pageant shall devour, The trumpet shall be heard on high, CHORUS: The dead shall live, the living die, And music shall untune the sky


Recordings

*''Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day'', (2003, CD):
Felicity Lott Dame Felicity Ann Emwhyla Lott, (born 8 May 1947) is an English soprano. Education Lott was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. From her earliest years she was musical, having started studying piano at age 5. She also played violin and bega ...
, soprano;
Anthony Rolfe Johnson Anthony Rolfe Johnson (5 November 1940 – 21 July 2010) was an English operatic tenor. Early life Anthony Rolfe Johnson was born in Tackley in Oxfordshire. As a boy, he demonstrated musical ability and sang as a boy soprano, making a record ...
, tenor;
Crispian Steele-Perkins Crispian Steele-Perkins (born 18 December 1944) is an internationally acclaimed classical trumpeter who was educated at Copthorne Preparatory School, Marlborough College and the Guildhall School of Music. Personal life Steele-Perkins lives i ...
, trumpet;
Lisa Beznosiuk Lisa Beznosiuk (born 20 August 1956 in Sheffield) is an English flautist of Ukrainian and Irish descent, specializing in period performance of baroque and classical music on historical flutes. Biography and career Lisa Beznosiuk trained at th ...
, flute; The English Concert And Choir, conducted by
Trevor Pinnock Trevor David Pinnock (born 16 December 1946 in Canterbury, England) is a British harpsichordist and conductor. He is best known for his association with the period-performance orchestra The English Concert, which he helped found and directe ...
;
Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon (; DGG) is a German classical music record label that was the precursor of the corporation PolyGram. Headquartered in Berlin Friedrichshain, it is now part of Universal Music Group (UMG) since its merger with the UMG family of ...
— Archiv Produktion – 474 549-2 *''Händel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day'', (1984/2008, CD):
Monika Frimmer Monika Frimmer (born 1955) is a German soprano in opera and concert. Career Monika Frimmer studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover in Hannover. She studied further in master-classes and worked with Birgit Nilsson, Elisabeth S ...
, soprano;
Eberhard Bǔchner Eberhard is an old Germanic name meaning the strength or courage of a wild boar. People First name *Eberhard of Friuli (815–866), Duke and key figure in the Carolingian Empire * Eberhard of Béthune (died 1212), Flemish grammarian *Eberhard I, D ...
, tenor; members of the choir of the
Landestheater Halle The Halle Opera House () is an opera house in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. Originally named the Halle Town Theatre (), the theatre was built in 1886. A bomb attack on 31 March 1945 destroyed much of the original building. Restorative work ensued a few ...
, of the Hallischen Chorsolisten and the
Collegium vocale Collegium Vocale Gent is a Belgian musical ensemble of vocalists and supporting instrumentalists, founded by Philippe Herreweghe. The group is dedicated to historically informed performance. Founding and program Collegium Vocale Gent was founde ...
; the Händel-Festspielorchester Halle, conducted by Christian Kluttig;
Berlin Classics Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...
— 0013992BC


See also

* ''
Hail! Bright Cecilia ''Hail! Bright Cecilia'' ( Z.328), also known as ''Ode to St. Cecilia'', was composed by Henry Purcell to a text by the Irishman Nicholas Brady in 1692 in honour of the feast day of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. Annual celebration ...
''


References


External links

*
Score
from the Händel-Werkausgabe, ed.
Friedrich Chrysander Karl Franz Friedrich Chrysander (8 July 1826 – 3 September 1901) was a German music historian, critic and publisher, whose edition of the works of George Frideric Handel and authoritative writings on many other composers established him as a pion ...
, Leipzig 1866 {{Authority control Cantatas by George Frideric Handel 1739 compositions Choral compositions