Transcript Messiah - Roy Y. Chan

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 Christianity
Composed on April 13, 1742 in Dublin
The work is based on a libretto by Charles
Jennens, who assembled the Messiah together
Libretto – 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.”