The instrumentation of this piece is typical baroque instrumentation, violin, viola, cello and the rather painful harpsichord. This piece also includes a vocalist, he sings in a tenor voice telling a story. The four instruments are a quartet and then the vocalist sings over the top.
The piece is written in a major key, therefore sounds merry and gay (though upon first hearing this piece I was not induced with said merriment). The vocalist is singing about something with a religious theme as he says the word “hallelujah”.
There are different techniques that are used throughout this piece, such as call and answer between the violin/viola and the harpsichord. There are also times when the violin plays joyful little trills. The texture of the piece is rather polyphonic as the quartet normally plays together at the same time though not all of the instruments play together in unison. The violin is often carrying the main melodies throughout the piece; the vocalist also carries a melody throughout the piece. At the start of the piece the other instruments play short sparse notes around the vocals. Then the vocalist gives himself a little rest while the quartet plays, then they all play together.
This piece was written towards the end of the baroque period.
The piece is written in a major key, therefore sounds merry and gay (though upon first hearing this piece I was not induced with said merriment). The vocalist is singing about something with a religious theme as he says the word “hallelujah”.
There are different techniques that are used throughout this piece, such as call and answer between the violin/viola and the harpsichord. There are also times when the violin plays joyful little trills. The texture of the piece is rather polyphonic as the quartet normally plays together at the same time though not all of the instruments play together in unison. The violin is often carrying the main melodies throughout the piece; the vocalist also carries a melody throughout the piece. At the start of the piece the other instruments play short sparse notes around the vocals. Then the vocalist gives himself a little rest while the quartet plays, then they all play together.
This piece was written towards the end of the baroque period.