History of Handel's Messiah
History of Handel’s Messiah
In 1741, Handel composed the masterpiece Messiah, which is an English language oratorio that traced the history of Jesus Christ. The piece gave its first performance on April 13, 1742, in Dublin, eventually going to London a year later.
The original public reception was quite modest, though it eventually became one of the most iconic and commonly performed pieces in the world of Western music. The most widely-known section of this piece is arguably the “Hallelujah” chorus, which might be one of the most famous Baroque pieces of work in history.
While this piece was originally written for the Easter holiday, it has become a staple of almost every holiday season.
Where Did The Piece Come From?
One thing to note is that the piece is called Messiah, not The Messiah.
The abstract nature of the name fell in line with the generally abstract nature of the piece. Unlike many of his other biblical oratorios or operas, Messiah did not have a regular plot that the audience could follow.
Through this piece, Handel formed a brand new genre. It had a bit of Italian opera, a bit of English church anthem, and a bit of German passion.
The piece came about when Handel was experiencing a revelation in the changing tastes of his wide London audience. During this time, Italian opera was losing popularity, and the politics of the English church were quickly shifting.
However, Handel knew that the general public was still looking for a good biblical story to latch onto. Unfortunately, the Bishop of London forbid performances with religious overtones on the stages throughout London. This meant that Handel had to write his work for a performance in the church.
Handel was pretty deliberate in understating the dramatic content in Messiah. The piece had three conceptual building blocks it perched itself upon, including:
The story of the prophecy and the nativity
The redemption of humankind through Jesus’ crucifixion
A commentary on the souls of Christians and their victories in death
Handel made sure that the chorus acted as the heart of Messiah, using an orchestra and vocal soloists to state his point.
You’ll find some of the most jaw-dropping, heart-pounding music in Messiah, spiritual, touching, and profound. Fans of Handel noticed his use of well-known tricks, though he also employed many new elements in this piece.
In just 24 days, with a lack of sleep and food, Handel composed Messiah.
It is said that Handel’s servant found him with tears in his eyes while writing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus, saying,
“I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”
At one point, Mozart attempted to reorchestrate the oratorio, though he noted he was unable to improve upon the work. Beethoven even said that Handel was the “greatest composer that ever lived.”
Handel often said that this was one of his favorite pieces. At his benefit concerts, he would always play Messiah. Just over a week before he died, during his failing health, he was able to hear Messiah performed at Theatre Royal.
In Modern Media
You’ve likely heard the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus before.
The ‘Hallelujah’ chorus is the piece at the end of Part II, which closes off the chapter of Messiah surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and redemption. In modern media, you can hear this chorus in so many places, from Bridget Jones’s Diary to The X Factor.
Throughout the Christmas and Easter season, you probably hear it ringing out from radio stations, concert halls, and churches. The ‘Hallelujah’ chorus and ‘For Unto Us A Child Is Born’ portions of the piece are arguably the most popular.
Having the piece performed during the Yuletide became a British staple throughout the Victorian Era. However, the song actually contains a greater number of Easter references rather than Christmas references. It was said that, during the time of its inception, there was already a smattering of Easter music, and the church needed music to tell the story of Jesus’ birth instead.
Somehow, however, the obsession with playing the piece during this time has never subsided.
Where To Listen
While there are certainly many recordings of Messiah, one of the best recordings is the 1988 Trevor Pinnock version with the English Concert and Choir. This version of Messiah was one of the very first to use instruments authentic to the time, as well as embellished vocals that were very keen to match those of the Baroque era.