This is a joyous double chorus full of fast, florid sequential˚ runs and short interjections of imitation in all voices in turn.
Chorus SATB SATBExodus 15, v 1 |
I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and the rider hath He thrown into the sea. |
This beautiful duet for two sopranos, a moment of calm reflection, is built around true antiphonal dialogue with the voices imitating, conversing and complementing each other throughout. Passages of parallel thirds and sixths are common, and the voices are gently supported by continuo and violin obbligati˚. The music for this movement is parodied from Erba’s Magnificat.
Duet Soprano, AltoExodus 15, v 2 |
The Lord is my strength and my song; He is become my salvation. |
Another slow and declamatory quasi-recitative chorus which is entirely homophonic, and in which the text is delivered as expediently as possible. The music for this movement is copied from Erba’s Magnificat – I say copied rather than parodied, as, in this case, it is taken by Handel without any alterations to the original at all, apart from the text.
Chorus SATB SATBExodus 15, v 2 |
He is my God and I will prepare Him an habitation; my Father’s God. |
This fugal chorus begins a cappella˚, the instruments joining in only after the opening exposition˚. This fugue has dense polyphony˚ and, although not parodied, is more in the heavy style of J.S. Bach than Handel. The thematic material for this movement is based on a Ricercare˚ by Giovanni Gabrieli, which Handel must have encountered during his time in Venice some thirty or so years earlier.
Chorus SATBExodus 15, v 2 |
And I will exalt Him. |
Finally the chorus are given some respite as the tenor and bass soloists make an appearance. This joyous duet, accompanied by two obbligato oboes and bassoon, with strings and continuo, is largely antiphonal; the two voices carry on a conversation for the most part, singing together only on a few short occasions. The music for this movement is partly parodied from Erba’s Magnificat, and partly from a Te Deum by Urio. It is in a reduced ternary˚ form, falling short of a typical Baroque da capo aria.
Duet Tenor, BassExodus 15, vv 3, 4 |
The Lord is a man of war: Lord is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea; his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. |
This slow and thoughtful chorus is constructed over a number of pedal points˚ with a very slow rate of harmonic pulse˚. The music for this movement is also parodied from Erba’s Magnificat.
Chorus SATB SATBExodus 15, v 5 |
The depths have covered them: They sank into the bottom as a stone. |
A joyous and uplifting chorus with a fast tempo and prominent roles for the brass and timpani. The full eight-part texture is contrasted on occasions with pairs of voices. The music for this movement is also parodied from Erba’s Magnificat. The next chorus follows straight on with no break.
Chorus SATB SATBExodus 15, v 6 |
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power; Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. |
