Handel's Oratorios and Eighteenth-Century Thought
- Author: Smith, Ruth
If ever there was a body of work which needed a fresh look, surely this is it, and this is what Ruth Smith offers in her lively and challenging book —
Book
$72.00Printed on demand
Contents
- Introduction
- Part I . English Origins of English Oratario:
- 1. Artistic norms
- 2. The purpose of art
- 3. Music, morals and religion
- 4. The biblical sublime
- 5. The survival of the epic
- 6. The defence of Christianity
- 7. Towards oratorio
- Part II . The Patriot Libretto from the Excise Bill to the Jew Bill: Israelite Oratarios and English Politics:
- 8. Political events and political thought
- 9. Allegorical politics
- 10. Moral politics
- 11. Esther to Athalia
- 12. In time of war
- 13. Images of government
- 14. The conflict of public and private interests
- 15. Coda: the end of Handel's Israelite oratorios
- Appendices
- Notes
- Index.