How Does Handel's Messiah Relate To Music

Russell Teller

Music from 600-1750

Dr. Cave

Handel’s Messiah On September 14, 1741 George Frideric Handel laid down his quill and paper, as he had just finished his brand new work, and it was to be called “Messiah”. Messiah is an English-Language oratorio composed by Handel with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens. Although to Handel it may have seemed like just another piece of music, little did he know that Messiah would rapidly become one of his most well-known works. The Messiah is still widely known and celebrated today, mostly around Advent time in the church. It is one of the most performed pieces of many ensembles. None of this would be possible however if it was not for George Frideric Handel. George Frideric Handel was

Avoglio and Cibber were again chief soloists, joined by tenor John Beard, a veteran of Handel’s operas, and bass Thomas Rheinhold and two other sopranos, Kitty Clive and Miss Edwards. The warm reception they got from the Dublin premiere was far from the reception they got in London. People did not approve of the subject matter (Jesus/Messiah/Religion/Christianity) and believed that it was not appropriate for such secular singers such as Cibber and Clive to perform in a regular, non-religious theater. Handel took the criticism and rearranged the music once again to suit the audience’s requests and still be faithful to the performers. Due to the continued bad reception, Handel reduced the number of shows from six to three and decided not to preform or present the work at all in

Handel composed more than forty operas in thirty years. Since the late 1960’s and the revival of Baroque music and historically informed musical performance, interest in Handel’s operas and oratorios have grown. Handel’s legacy lives on and he continues to grow more and more popular each and every day, specifically through Messiah. Handel’s Messiah is an impressive piece of music because it has made such a huge impact everywhere and is still widely performed, especially around Christmas. The Messiah was written in 24 days, which is a very intriguing coincidence considering that this piece of music is based around the Advent season. Robert Manson Myers has said that:

Messiah is thus a balanced piece of musical architecture. Although nearly twenty biblical writers are represented in its fifty six numbers, the general effect is cumulative and the oratorio stands essentially as a unity. Its text is well-nigh ideal in the solid continuity with which the Savior’s life is gradually unfolded from prophecy to the last things.