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12/16/2016 4:19 pm  #1


Messiah

Messiah (Handel)

Messiah (HWV 56)[1] is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.[n 1]

Handel's reputation in England, where he had lived since 1712, had been established through his compositions of Italian opera. He turned to English oratorio in the 1730s in response to changes in public taste; Messiah was his sixth work in this genre. Although its structure resembles that of opera, it is not in dramatic form; there are no impersonations of characters and no direct speech. Instead, Jennens's text is an extended reflection on Jesus as the Messiah called Christ. The text begins in Part I with prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to the annunciation to the shepherds, the only "scene" taken from the Gospels. In Part II, Handel concentrates on the Passion and ends with the "Hallelujah" chorus. In Part III he covers the resurrection of the dead and Christ's glorification in heaven.

Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces, with optional settings for many of the individual numbers. In the years after his death, the work was adapted for performance on a much larger scale, with giant orchestras and choirs. In other efforts to update it, its orchestration was revised and amplified by (among others) Mozart. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the trend has been towards reproducing a greater fidelity to Handel's original intentions, although "big Messiah" productions continue to be mounted. A near-complete version was issued on 78 rpm discs in 1928; since then the work has been recorded many times.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)







 


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
 

12/16/2016 7:42 pm  #2


Re: Messiah

 Thanks for posting.

 

12/17/2016 9:30 am  #3


Re: Messiah

My pleasure.
Mrs. Goose and I attended a live performance last night at Abbey Chapel on the Campus of Mount Holyoke College.
Wow!
It just makes my Christmas.


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
     Thread Starter
 

12/17/2016 10:33 am  #4


Re: Messiah

My favorite is when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings it.  Their Christmas program that's televised began to change a few years ago by adding many dancers and bell ringers.  They've moved far away from their traditional Christmas shows which included the Handel's Messiah.  I have a cd, many years old by now, that is a recording of one of those traditional shows which I play several times throughout the season. 

 

12/17/2016 10:40 am  #5


Re: Messiah

flowergirl wrote:

My favorite is when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings it.  Their Christmas program that's televised began to change a few years ago by adding many dancers and bell ringers.  They've moved far away from their traditional Christmas shows which included the Handel's Messiah.  I have a cd, many years old by now, that is a recording of one of those traditional shows which I play several times throughout the season. 

Yes, my MT choir recording of several songs from the Messiah is a cherished possession as well.
I agree with you, sometimes more is just too much. 
I like the traditional.
My Christmas play list is a blend of choir music, and oldies like Tony Bennett, Bing, Dean, Frank, Nate King Cole, Mahalia Jackson, etc.
The sacred music reminds me of the season. The crooners remind me of my childhood and my folks. 
 

Last edited by Goose (12/17/2016 10:52 am)


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
     Thread Starter
 

12/17/2016 1:26 pm  #6


Re: Messiah

Hooray--I found an ally! 

 

12/18/2016 10:42 am  #7


Re: Messiah

I also have a weakness for Pavarotti, which my wife puts up with.



 


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
     Thread Starter
 

12/18/2016 10:52 am  #8


Re: Messiah

He was the greatest and his singing lives on and on thanks to CDs.

 

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