How did Handel develop musical affect?
To elicit 'affect,' the very soul of the listener, one must first understand the dramatic intent. It is not enough to merely arrange notes; one must paint with sound, mirroring the passions of the text or the inherent drama of the subject. I conceive of music as a grand structure, much like a cathedral. A recitative, for instance, serves to advance the narrative, the words dictating the melodic line and harmonic color, much as an architect uses stone and mortar to define space. Then, an aria erupts, an emotional explosion, where a single mood or sentiment is explored with melodic invention and harmonic richness, often returning to a principal theme in the 'da capo' form, thereby reinforcing its impact upon the heart.
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