Composed by George Frideric Handel Lyrics compiled from the bible by Charles Jennens Performed by Cambridge King's College Choir Academy of St Martin in the Fields directed by Sir Neville Marriner with James Bowman (Countertenor), Robert Tear (tenor), Benjamin Luxon (Bass) Conducted by Sir David Willcocks Label EMI Price £15.99 Available in most good music stores
Handel is a German born English composer. He was born in Halle, Germany on 23rs February 1685. He first moved to London in 1710 settling there in 1712. He was eventually nationized English in 1726.
In 1741 Handel was invited to visit Dublin and give concerts in aid of charities there. In the same year Jennens sent Handel a religious text and Handel duly composed the music to Messiah (not The Messiah). It debutted in Dublin in 1742.
Messiah is the most famous and most loved of all Handel's works. The music in Messiah is dramatic and theatrical and relates the life of Christ from the Revalation to his Resurection.
The oratorio is divided into three main sections. The first part dramatises the great expectancy in Israel for the promised Messiah. It draws upon some of the great prophecies of the Old Testament that foretell his coming and the work he will accomplish.
A beautifully haunting melody of the Pastoral Symphony plays as shepherds tend their flocks on the hillside of Judea. The peace is suddenly broken as the music dramatises the fear and amazement of the shepherds when the angel appears proclaiming the birth of the Lord. The music rises to a crescendo of excitement, culminating in an angelic chorus: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill towards men." (Luke 2:10-14) The music announcing the birth of Jesus Christ has distant trumpets and a hushed choir.
Christ enlisted the help of his disciples and spread the Word of God to the hebrew people. The solemn, grave tones of the Oratorio in the early portion of the Second Part suggest the tremendous burden carried by Christ as He is misunderstood by both friends and foes. The drama of the music becomes intense, as it suddenly changes to portray the derision and scorn that people heaped upon Him. "All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn," sings the soloist. It is followed by a chorus that echoes the mocking words of unbelieving Jews as He hung upon the cross: "He trusted in God that He would deliver him". He died upon the cross.
A note of joy is heard within in the music, as the words from Acts 2 are sung proclaiming the fact that God brought Jesus again from the grave. He triumphed, not only over the Jews and Gentiles who cruelly crucified Him but over the power of death itself.
The most famous piece in the Oratorio is the Hallelujah Chorus. The chorus is triumphal repeating the single word Hallelujah four times before the words"for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" are added in a counterpoint against the continued Hallelujahs.
There are 53 tracks in all, too many to list individually. The Oratario opens with a Sinfony and consists of a mix of airs, accompagnatos, choruses, recitatives singing lines from Issiah, Haggai, Malachi, Matthew, Luke, Zachariah, John, Psalms, Lamentations, Hebrews, Romans, Corinthiansand Revelations.
The cover contains a painting of the Birth of the Messiah (I do not know the artist, sorry).
It is popular to perform the work both at Christmas and Easter. Handel's original performances were all given at Easter. Charles Burney, the 18th century music historian, remarked that Handel's Messiah "fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and fostered the orphan."
If you are unable to see a performance live, I would reccomend that you listen to this album. It is a two CD album, so I accept it will be long for some (2hours 20 minutes) but if you cannot listen to it in its entirity experience at least extracts from the Messiah.
