Secondary Topical Strategies in Handel’s Opera SeriaGREGORY DECKER (BOW LI N G GRE E N S TATE U N I VE RSI TY)SMT NATIONAL MEETING

2 NOVEMBER 2017

The primary topical strategyOne aria • one topic

Topic + lyrics + context lead to portrait of the character

Secondary strategies1. Topical reversal

2. Topical regions or themes

3. Simultaneous topics

Corpus study9 operas surveyed:

Radamisto (1720)

Il Floridante (1721)

Giulio Cesare (1724)

Tamerlano (1724)

Rodelinda (1725)

Orlando (1733)

Ariodante (1735)

Alcina (1735)

Serse (1738)

Corpus study277 Arias • Primary vs. Secondary Strategies

83%

3% 8% 6%

One Aria/One Topic (no alteration)

Contrasting A&B sections

Simultaneous Topics

Reversed Topic

Topical reversalMusical and/or dramatic contexts incongruous to topic used

Present in about 6% of surveyed arias

Topical reversal“Sì, mio ben,” (Atalanta) from Serse

Translation: “Yes, my love, I live and die for you alone.”

Topical reversalSiciliano topic:

Serious

Melancholy

Nostalgia

Resignation

Desirefor(returnto)simplicity

Translation: “Yes, my love, I live and die for you alone.”

Topical reversalTypical Trumpet Aria:

Major mode

March

Martial/trumpet-like melodic figures

Triadic outlines, repeated notes

Bravura feel

Victory, righteousness, joy, celebration

Reversed Trumpet Aria:

Minor mode

Anger, indignation, malicious revenge

Topical reversal“Tuo drudo è mio rivale,” (Grimoaldo) from Rodelinda

Translation: “Your lover is my rival; your husband is my enemy, and he shall die.”

Topical region or themeOne topic used for successive arias

Or topic made thematic via frequent use

Invites comparison of arias

Beginning of Act II (Dorinda), Orlando—siciliano topic

Topical region or theme“Quando spieghi i tuoi tormenti,” (Dorinda), from Orlando

Translation: “Whenyoumakeknownyourtorments,lovingnightingale,itseemsthatyousingandweepandfeelsympathyformygrief.”

Topical region or theme“Se mi rivolgo al prato,” (Dorinda), from Orlando

Translation: “EverytimeIlookatameadow,IseemtoseeineveryflowerthecountenanceofmyMedoro.WhenIbeholdthewoodortheriver,thewavesortheleavesseemtowhispertome‘yes,yourMedoro isherewaitingforyou’.“

Topical region or themeAria One:

Resignation

Gentle melancholy

Natural world comforts

Dorinda on verge of acceptance

Aria Two:

Grief

Loss

Natural world reminds of sorrow

Dorinda slips back into dispair

Simultaneous topicsCombination of two topics produces a new meaning

Present in about 8% of surveyed arias

Two topics often have complementary associations

Commonly paired topics: stile concitato, French overture, trumpet aria, passepied

Simultaneous topics“Sì, la voglio,” (Arsamene), from Serse

Translation: “Yes, I want her, andI shall have her.”

Simultaneous topicsTrumpet aria:

Celebratory

Righteousness

Stile concitato:

Anger, rage

War, battle, fire

Righteous anger

Translation: “Yes, I want her, andI shall have her.”

Simultaneous topics“Saprà delle mio offese,” (Amastre), from Serse

Translation: “MyheartshallbeavengedfortheslightsIhaveendured;themanwhoignitedmyireshallfeelmyfury.”

Translation: “MyheartshallbeavengedfortheslightsIhaveendured;themanwhoignitedmyireshallfeelmyfury.”

Simultaneous topicsCombination of passepied and stile concitato

Pain of love

Righting lover’s injustice—not physical revenge

Translation: “MyheartshallbeavengedfortheslightsIhaveendured;themanwhoignitedmyireshallfeelmyfury.”

Secondary Topical Strategies in Handel’s Opera SeriaGREGORY DECKER (BOW LI N G GRE E N S TATE U N I VE RSI TY)SMT NATIONAL MEETING

2 NOVEMBER 2017