PROGRAM NOTES 

George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759) 

MESSIAH

Born in Halle, Germany, George Frideric Handel took up permanent residence in London, England, in 1712 and became a naturalized British subject in 1727. One of the most prolific and popular baroque composers, he served as kapellmeister to both kings George I and George II. A shrewd financial investor and entrepreneurial promoter, Handel funded his own operas, and was one of the few investors in the infamous South Sea Trading Company who profited after the bubble burst in 1720, ruining the likes of Sir Isaac Newton. Handel died a wealthy man in 1759, and was buried in Westminster Abbey where he was given full state honors and mourned by a crowd of three thousand.

Handel composed his oratorio Messiah in 1741 with text taken by librettist Charles Jennens from the English King James Bible and Book of Common Prayer. The work was premiered in 1742 in Dublin, Ireland, more by accident than by design. Riding the wave of popularity, Handel set up a charitable benefit concert at which he presented Messiah to a packed hall. While the composer intended the work for a small choir and chamber orchestra of only two trumpets, timpani, two oboes, two violins, viola and basso-continuo, its tremendous popularity has driven the work to be re-orchestrated for larger orchestras and choirs over the years. How Messiah came to be a Yuletide tradition remains a bit of a mystery, but may have come about through sheer necessity: while there was lots of choral music available for Easter, hardly any sacred music existed for Christmas and Messiah easily filled the bill.

Handel structured Messiah in three parts, each scene is a collection of individual movements in the form of recitatives, arias and choruses. In Part I, the Messiah’s coming is predicted by the Old Testament prophets; Christ’s birth and the annunciation to the shepherds follows. Part II describes Christ’s death, resurrection and his exultation as the savior of humanity in the “Hallelujah” chorus. Part III begins with the promise of mans’ redemption and ends with the final victory over sin and death, and the acclamation of Christ.