Handel's Messiah

Handel had started to experiment with oratorios in 1732, after the success of a ballad opera called the Beggars Opera by Johann Pepusch and John Gay. His own operas had declined in popularity, and operas were expensive and difficult to produce (Barber, and Donald). An oratorio was basically the same thing as an opera, except there were no expensive sets and costumes (Bonds). Handel composed Messiah from August 22 to September 14, 1741, a space of only 3 weeks. After finishing the oratorio, he put it away and started to work on another oratorio, Saul. It sat collecting dust for months, until Handel was invited to Ireland to visit the Duke of Devonshire in early November of 1741. After a rather disappointing opera season in 1740 and 1741, Handel was eager to get to Dublin. The libretto for Messiah was written by Charles Jennens (who also wrote the libretto for Saul) in the summer of 1741. It contained a compilation of verses from the bible; it didn’t tell a story, but reflected on the life of Christ and the Christian message, which is why it is a popular performance with churches today (Barber, and Donald). Messiah contains a recitative, “He that dwelleth in heaven”, and an aria, “Thou shalt not break them”. A recitativeis a style of singing that is between a lyrical song and speech, and makes the words clearer and easier to understand. An aria is the lyrical movement or piece for solo voice with some kind

Many musical scholars believe that J. S. Bach and G. F. Handel are the two most important, influential composers of the Baroque period. Both of these men were born in Germany in 1685, and since they came into existence around the same time, they share some similarities. As an introductory statement, Bach and Handel were born into two very different families. Handel did not come from a musical family; his father wanted him to study law. By age nine, his talent was too obvious for his father to ignore and Handel began to study with a local organist and composer. On the contrary, Bach came from a long line of musicians. Bach also had four sons which became gifted composers, in their own right. Bach, like Handel, also started as an organist

His career includes 42 operas, 29 oratorios, 16 organ concerti, over 120 cantatas, trios and duets, chamber music, odes, and many ecumenical pieces, his most famous work being the Oratorio “Messiah.” Composed in 1741, the oratorio was preformed first in Dublin in 1742. It had a scriptural text from the King James Bible and was written for modest vocal and instrumental forces. The work, although very much in the style of Handel, is a series of thoughts on the Christian idea of redemption and utilizes a mixture of traditions. After Handel’s death in 1759, the Oratorio began to gain popularity even further and was adapted to larger scale choirs and orchestras. Handel has very much influenced the world of music, especially through his operas, and has grown in popularity throughout the years. As the inventor of English Oratorios and being so well known for his Italian operas his style and influence is felt around the world even still in the music of today.

George Frideric Handel is generally considered the second most important Baroque composer after Bach. Unlike Bach's nearly complete focus on church music in Germany, Handel more openly embraced the French, Italian, and English secular music. Also unlike Bach, Handel did not come from a long line of musicians. When he was born on February 23, 1685, Handel's family had no idea that he would rise to a legendary status in music. Handel's father began to see his son's desire to compose at an early age and violently objected. His mother was responsible for nurturing and continuing his musical education. At the age of seven, Handel was asked to give an organ recital for the Duke of Sachse-Weissenfels. The Duke was very impressed and awarded the family with a generous amount of money. This event persuaded his father to allow Handel to pursue his musical career. When his father died in1697, Handel was freed from his father's will. He studied with numerous organists and gained minor fame.

This piece is based upon the scriptural text from the King James Bible it was first performed in Dublin in 1742; Handel makes use of the renaissance technique of word painting and multi-part polyphony. It uses fascinating word painting and is repeated throughout the piece. This piece comes from the oratorio called Messiah; it is the third piece of Messiah. It is the combination of homophony and polyphony with the addition of two trumpets. There are also two oboes, two violins, a viola, and a basso continuo. The use of basso continuo (instrumental accompaniment) requires a chordal instrument and a thoroughbass.

Oratorios were performed in prayer halls, which was a sacred setting similar to the cantata. Oratorios were recitative and contained de capo arias and chorus, like the Italian opera. It was sung drama performed without staging or costumes. “The catholic church saw the power of operas and was quick to take on operas for sacred subjects, such as the lives of saints. However, the church also condemned operas for its power to seduce and dazzle, banning the performance of opera during Advent and Lent.”3 George Handel, an opera composer also composed Messiah, which was one of the best-known oratorios. Another important composer of this genre was Giacomo Carissimi, who wrote many early

Jesus and the Disinherited begin the first chapter with the interpretation of Jesus. Dr. Thurman explained that Jesus was a poor Jew and was a minority in the midst of a dominate society. Dr. Thurman gives his analysis on how the world views Jesus. People around the world have their own interpretation of Jesus; yet, people have an orthodox view of him being fully God and fully man. In chapter one, the author references the nonviolent resistance approach, which is a tactic Dr. Martin Luther King Jr used in the civil rights movements. He interprets Jesus as a black man who lived his life as an outsider in the world. Jesus was the disinherited and oppressed like African Americans.

Oftentimes people have a difficult time connecting with history. They do not see the relevance between something hundreds of years ago and today’s issues. The Broadway musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda does a great job of bridging that gap. Many of the issues that were faced in the time period of Alexander Hamilton are also faced in the world today. An example of this is politicians riding the fence on important issues. A main character in the play is criticized greatly for doing this just as people are currently. In Miranda’s Hamilton, characters are faced with issues and are asked to take a stand just as political leaders are today.

In class, we’re listening to music by different composers. Today we herd a long piece called he messiah. Before Mr.Crockett started them music, he had this wrote on the board: ‘You must listen to this work patiently. In other words, Handel with care.’ Accept for me, most everybody in the class laffed, including Mr Crocket hisself. Mix Jones, I just don’t get this joke. Would you please explain it to me?

Henry Purcell is seen as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque period and one of the greatest of all English composers. His earliest surviving works date from 1680 and show a complete command of musical composition. They include some fantasias for viols, masterpieces of contrapuntal writing, and more contemporary sonatas for violins, which reveal some acquaintance with Italian models. Purcell, in his time, became increasingly in demand as a composer, and his theatre music in particular made his name familiar to many who knew nothing of his church music or the odes and welcome songs he wrote for the court of three different kings over twenty-five years.

Handel and Bach are considered two of the greatest composers of all time. However, when comparing the output of these two musicians, the diversity manifest in music in the era when they wrote immediately becomes apparent. Handel, although he used religious subject matter, is usually characterized as fundamentally a 'secular' composer. He composed for the concert hall, not the church, and primarily as a result of royal commissions. His music is strident, powerful, and large in scope. It is designed to entertain, rather than to spur contemplation (The pure power of Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus', NPR, 2008). Bach, in contrast, often created music designed to be performed in sacred spaces. His music is more fluid and nuanced in style and designed more to spur contemplation and devotion rather than excite people's interest as a piece of entertainment.

Handel's discovery of oratorio was quite accidental and came in the form of a commission from Dublin. His appreciation of its possibilites was immediate, and the die was cast that he would devote the rest of his creative life to composing in the genre.

Despite his success, life was not exactly easy for Handel. He was often criticized by members of the English social establishment because of his artistic endeavors. Some of them had considered italian operas silly, and some believed that his biblical dramas were profane. Case and point: Messiah, which he wrote, was well received in Dublin at its premiere in 1742. however, when it came to London a year later, it was clouded by controversy.

A Crusade is military excursions made by Western European Christians during the late eleventh century through the late thirteenth century. Crusades offered peasants an escape from the brutal Feudal System, because peasants who took up the cross were freed from feudal obligations. Pope Urban II sought to unite the European Christians, to increase personal power, to counter the rising power of Seljuk Turks, and to provide pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Peter the Hermit, instigator of the Crusades, spread Crusade fever preaching all over France which, attracted outcasts, criminals, beggars, and thieves. Additionally, the nobles wanted to strengthen the power of the Monarchy crown across Europe and sought new

Opera was created around 1597.Madame Butterfly is an operatic kind of song.The melody being used was more in high notes and high pitch level but few were in dialogue.The harmony is in polyphonic in nature with mixtures of instruments.The tone color is also in the counterpoint,contrapuntal way and it has full of vibrato singing style (libretto).The rhythm of the piece starts in slow,and it has full of dynamic expressions from soft to loud sounds.The emotions of the piece and the singers portray and interpret it very dramatically.Costumes were based in 18th century style.