Messiah is a famous oratorio written by the German composer George Frideric Handel. An oratorio is a dramatic vocal composition that is usually based on a religious story.
Handel composed Messiah in 1741. He wrote it for soloists, chorus, and orchestra. The work premiered in a music hall in Dublin, Ireland, on April 13, 1742. Handel made changes in the composition later. Handel’s friend Charles Jennens collected passages from the Bible to create the text of the oratorio. Portions of Messiah, especially the popular “Hallelujah” chorus, are traditionally performed during the Christmas season.
Messiah contains no dramatic action. It illustrates the foundations of Christianity in a series of musical numbers that parallel the prophecy of Jesus Christ’s coming, his birth, life, death, and resurrection.
Loading the player...Hallelujah Chorus
The main reason for the popularity of Messiah lies in its glorious choruses, which show a remarkable variety of mood and technique. “And the glory of the Lord” is a happy dancelike chorus. In this and other choruses, including “And he shall purify” and “For unto us a child is born,” the voices come in and out casually, and the four voice parts alternate singing the theme. The singers also join in loud, echoing exclamations, and sing some parts, including the endings, with words in unison.
“O thou that tellest good tidings” recalls earlier English music. It especially draws from the style of Henry Purcell, a composer of the 1600’s, in its melody, lightness, and good cheer. In “Surely He hath borne our griefs,” Handel portrayed grief with solemn rhythms and thick harmony. The thrilling “Hallelujah” chorus shows Handel as a master of choral effects.
