Classical Music Appreciation--A Summary of Handel's "Messiah"

THE MESSIAH

An oratorio by George Frederic Handel composed in 1741 that uses a chorus, an orchestra, and soloists (bass, tenor, alto, and soprano). It is often used in big-scale and small-scale performances near and at Christmastime.

 

It is now common tradition for the audience to be the chorus with no chorus in the back of the orchestra in some of the Messiah performances---the concept in this case is the Do-It-Yourself Messiah, which is a tradition especially in the Civic Opera House in Chicago.

 

Wikipedia’s concept of Messiah: “In English today, in religious contexts, it is used in two major contexts: the anticipated saviour of the Jews, which has to come in the future to bring ultimate peace on earth. And secondly, the one who is anticipated as, regarded as, or professes to be a saviour or liberator.” (Wikipedia 2007)

 

A Summary of the Messiah Oratorio

First part focuses on the birth of Jesus. This is why almost all Messiah music events focus on this part during the Christmas season.

Examples:

“Pastoral Symphony” (for orchestra alone, key of C major)

---this instrumental depicts the Biblical story of the shepherds who use instruments to

    announce that Jesus was born

---strings section is the only section that plays, no English horn, and no sheep horn (known as the "ranz des vaches"), just only the strings.

“For Onto Us a Child is Born” (chorus, key of G major)

 ---this chorus focuses on melismatic runs, that is, a cascade of running notes usually on

     one syllable or word (in this case, mostly on the word “born”)

 

Second Part focuses mainly on the Passion of Jesus (the last seven days leading to his arrest and crucifixion) as well as his Resurrection.

Examples:

“Behold the Lamb of God (chorus in G minor)

--a pathetic, slow moving description probably announcing Jesus’s suffering and death

    on the cross, which resulted in the cleansing of the sins of humankind.

“Hallelujah Chorus” (chorus in D major)

--it is now common tradition in a Messiah concert performance that the audience

  stand up during the chorus. This is because the text of that chorus announces that

  Jesus has risen from the dead. (“Hallelujah” is standard Hebrew for “Let us praise”)

  [This was because King George II rose up to his feet during the chorus, although not

    certain that he did it.]

--the chorus is the most popular chorus in the oratorio

Third Part----focuses on part of the Biblical events after Jesus’ Ascension  

Examples:

“I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” (for soprano and orchestra, E major)

---depicts a witness who felt the presence of Jesus going into heaven

 “The Trumpet Shall Sound” (for bass and orchestra, D major)

 ---a great example of word painting. It is a triple meter piece of praise using only one

     herald trumpet in the background with the orchestra. The piece depicts that the

     dead will be resurrected to heaven with a clean slate of mind.