George Frideric Handel: Messiah as an Oratorio

by Roy Chan Date: December 1, 2008

“Handel is so great and so simple that no one but a professional musician is unable to understand him.”-- Samuel Butler (1835-1902)Victorian author

Biography

• Born in Germany on February 23, 1685 to April 14, 1759

• Baroque composer who is famous for his operas, concerti grossi, and oratorios

• Oratorio – large musical composition that includes orchestra, a choir, and soloists

• Handel wrote the first English oratorio called the Messiah

• Handel’s music had largely influence Mozart, Beethoven, and Hadyn works

What is the Messiah?

Messiah – “the anointed one”, meaning a work about Jesus’ life and it’s relationship with ChristianityComposed on April 13, 1742 in DublinThe work is based on a libretto by Charles Jennens, who assembled the Messiah togetherLibretto – an extended musical work opera, ballet, and oratorio

The Text• Performed during Advent

(during Christmas season)• Deals with both the Old and

New Testament • Score contains SATB soloists,

SATB chorus, 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings, and basso continuo

• Divided into three parts:• 1) Advent and Christmas

Stories• 2) Christ’s passion,

resurrection, ascension, and evangelization

• 3) The Revelation to St. John

Oratorio in Three Parts• Part I: The Birth

• Scene 1: The prophecy of Salvation• Scene 2: The prophecy of the coming

of the Messiah • Scene 3: Portents to the world at

large • Scene 4: Prophecy of the Virgin Birth • Scene 5: The appearance of the

Angel to the shepherds • Scene 6: Christ's miracles

• Part II: The Passion• Scene 1: The sacrifice, the scourging

and agony on the cross • Scene 2: His death, His passing

through Hell, and His resurrection• Scene 3: His Ascension• Scene 4: God discloses His identity in

Heaven• Scene 5: The beginning of

evangelism • Scene 6: The world and its rulers

reject the Gospel • Scene 7: God's triumph

• Part III: The Aftermath • Scene 1: The promise of redemption

from Adam's fall • Scene 2: Judgment Day • Scene 3: The victory over death and

sin • Scene 4: The glorification of Christ

Fun Facts• “Messiah,” NOT “The Messiah”• Messiah was once called A Sacred Oratorio • Handel’s Messiah was intended for Easter not Christmas• The Messiah was first performed in Dublin and not in

London where he wrote this piece• Most popular work in Western choral literature today• The entire Messiah was written in 24 days• Handel was once performed the Messiah at the

Founding Hospital in a children’s home which ultimately led the work to be performed yearly today

Handel House Museum Today

• Located in London on 25 Brook Street

• Is open to the public

• Contains a lot of fine and decorative art works

• There are weekly recitals every Thursday

• This is the house where he wrote the Messiah

Recordings Today on CD

UCI Holiday Concert (Holifest)@ HIB 100 in 7:30pm; Admission: $5.00

• Featuring the UCI Choir – Chamber Singers, Women’s Chamber Choir, Men in Blaque, and University Chorus

• Christmas music from:• “Wonderful Time of the Year”• “Little Drummer Boy”• “White Christmas”• “Silent Night”• “Feliz Navidad”• Encore presentation of

Handel’s Messiah• And much much

more….come and be merry!!

Any questions???

“Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live

as though heaven is on earth.”