It's almost impossible to go a day without hearing a piece of music. Music has been around for many years and has a great impact on our world. However, he hasn't always been the same. Just as times change, so do the style and characteristics of the music written in those times. This can be perceived by looking at two different works from two different time periods. The two works I have chosen to compare and contrast are Handel's Messiah and Smetana's The Moldau. Along with similarities and differences between the works themselves, there are also some between the styles of their composers and the periods in which they were written. The first opera, Messiah, was composed by the German George Frideric Handel. Handel wrote suites, organ concertos, concertos grandi, but is best known for his Italian operas and his English oratorios. An oratorio is similar to an opera in that they both feature a choir, an orchestra, and have a plot. However, an oratorio has no scenes or costumes. Handel's most famous oratorio, Messiah, is actually plotless and, like many of his other oratorios, is based on the Bible (Kamien 141-143). The Messiah debuted in 1742 in Dublin, Ireland. It was so popular there that men were not allowed to carry swords and women were not allowed to wear hoop skirts in the concert hall. This is to make room for more people. However, its first performance in London was not as popular due to religious disagreements over presenting a Christian-inspired work in a theatre. It took about ten years, but Messiah eventually became popular in London (Kamien 143). The Messiah has three parts. The first part concerns the prophecy and the birth of Jesus. Part II expresses salvation through the death of Jesus... half of the sheet... -212). Music is listened to by almost everyone every single day. It has existed for centuries and has a substantial impact on our world and society. As times change, so does the music composed in those times. This can be perceived by looking at two different works from two different time periods. Looking at Handel's Messiah and Smetana's La Vltava you can glimpse just a small glimpse of these changes. There are many similarities and differences between the Messiah and the Vltava. Likewise, there are also some similarities and differences between the styles of their composers and the periods in which they were written. Works Cited Kamien, Roger. Music: an appreciation. 7th short ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print.Schmidt-Jones, Catherine. "The textures of music." Connections. Np, 11 March 2011. Web. 1 May 2011. .