The gavotte (also gavot or gavote) was originally a
dance. The Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of
Dauphiné, France first introduced the dance which they
used for folk dancing. The music is in 4/4 or 2/2 time
and has a moderate tempo. A distinctive feature of the
18th-century French court gavotte is that the phrases
begin in the middle of the bar. In the Baroque era
composers such as Handel and Bach added the gavotte to
suites and partitas.
The German-born George Frideric Hande...(+)
The gavotte (also gavot or gavote) was originally a
dance. The Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of
Dauphiné, France first introduced the dance which they
used for folk dancing. The music is in 4/4 or 2/2 time
and has a moderate tempo. A distinctive feature of the
18th-century French court gavotte is that the phrases
begin in the middle of the bar. In the Baroque era
composers such as Handel and Bach added the gavotte to
suites and partitas.
The German-born George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was
a famous Baroque composer who lived much of his life in
Britain. He was successful as a composer of oratorios,
anthems, operas and organ concertos. Handel received
his education in Germany and Italy before settling in
Britain in 1712. He set out to supply the English
nobility with Italian Opera, and within 15 years had
successfully established three commercial opera
companies. After a physical breakdown in 1737 he began
to address the musical needs of the middle-class of
society. After the success of "Alexander's Feast" in
1736 he chose to concentrate on English choral works.
The Oratorio "Messiah" (1742) was well received, and
thereafter he never performed an Italian opera again.
Handel's coronation anthem "Zadok the Priest", has been
performed at every British coronation since George II's
accession to the throne in 1727.
PARTITION