Messiah: He was despised
This guide follows Handel’s Messiah: He was despised (1741) in one part (ternary form).
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Follow all 7 sections as they play
Ternary form0:08–9:40
The strings open with a (instrumental ) in E-flat major. In the A section the alto's first rises by a fourth; rests break the words into , soft sighing violin figures fill the gaps, and some phrases are sung unaccompanied. A rounds the section off. The B section turns to C minor, with restless dotted rhythms in the strings for the blows of "He gave his back to the smiters", then "He hid not his face from shame" in its second part. The then repeats the A section, where singers were expected to add .
- A section
Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.
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BachPrelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major (WTC II), BWV 870BachPrelude and Fugue No. 9 in E major (WTC II), BWV 878BachPrelude and Fugue No. 11 in F major (WTC II), BWV 880BachPrelude and Fugue No. 14 in F-sharp minor (WTC II), BWV 883BachPrelude and Fugue No. 16 in G minor (WTC II), BWV 885BachPrelude in D minor (WTC II No. 6), BWV 875BachPrelude in E♭ major (WTC II No. 7), BWV 876BachPrelude and Fugue No. 3 in C-sharp major (WTC II), BWV 872BachPrelude and Fugue No. 13 in F-sharp major (WTC II), BWV 882BachPrelude and Fugue No. 17 in A-flat major (WTC II), BWV 886
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