LARGO ANALYSIS BY HANDEL

            
            
             George Frideric Handel was a composer during the early 18th century. During this time he wrote a piece titled "Largo". As the name implies it is a slow piece, rather soft, and the tempo never changes.
             The beginning of this song starts out very soft with the wind, brass, and string section. The low strings, a harp, and the low brass accompany the flute which carries the melody. Later the violins take over with the melody which is different than the flute's melody. This goes on for awhile and then the flutes and strings exchange melodies back and forth. The volume is fluctuating throughout the piece getting louder and softer. About halfway through the piece we hear the tenor brass and flutes playing the same melody together. After that it goes back into the violins playing the melody all the while being accompanied by the low brass and woodwinds. This general form repeats a few time without much variation on the main theme. The harp provides a very calming and almost sacred feel to the music. The volume swells provide conflict within the piece which seems to make it move along very easily. .
             The piece is entirely homophonic. Harmonies are used extensively and the melody changes from section to section, but mostly stays in the high woodwinds and high strings. The low instruments entertain the melody with structure and chord changes. The melody is only once played in the tenor brass section. The harp only plays chords and never takes lead of the melody, however; the piece ends with a quiet arpeggio played by the harp.