Handel and Bach

(Turabian Citation)

The first half of the 18th century was a time of tumultuous change in the musical arts. In the five or so decades that spanned that period, almost everything associated with music changed dramatically. At the start of the 18th century, music was restricted by what was known as "counterpoint," and the laws of counterpoint kept music constricted and tight. But by the second half of the 18th century, music had been liberated by an emphasis on what is known as "harmony." The transition from counterpoint to harmony in the first half of the 18th century was dominated by two strikingly different composers: Fredrik Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach. While each contributed to the overall transition in music, each did so in unique and somewhat different ways. Handel was a traditionalist, and looked to the past for his inspiration, while Bach continually tried to break...
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