Messiah (1741) is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. The name of the oratorio is taken from Judaism and Christianity's concept of the messiah ("the anointed one"). In Christianity, the Messiah is Jesus. Handel himself was a devout Christian, and the work is a presentation of Jesus's life and its significance according to Christian doctrine, with the text of the oratorio taken from the King James Bible.

Messiah is Handel's most famous work (approached only by his Water Music) and remains immensely popular among concert-goers in the English-speaking world.

Although Handel called his oratorio simply "Messiah" (without "The"), the work is also widely but incorrectly referred to as The Messiah. This folk-title is so common that, to many ears, the correct version actually sounds wrong.

Although the text is devoted to resurrection and salvation, and the work was conceived and first performed for Easter, it has become traditional since Handel's death to perform the Messiah oratorio during Advent, the preparatory period of the Christmas season, rather than at Easter. Christmas concerts often feature only the first section of Messiah plus the "Hallelujah" Chorus, although some ensembles like the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, Boston's Handel and Haydn Society, and New York's Musica Sacra feature the entire work as a Christmas concert. The work is also heard at Eastertide, and selections containing resurrection themes are often included in Easter services. The soprano aria I Know that my Redeemer Liveth is frequently heard at Christian funerals.

See also: Scratch Messiah

Composition and premiere

In the

It is said that while Handel was writing the Messiah, his valet would often find him weeping silently at his desk, overcome by the beauty and majesty of the music that was flowing from his pen. The secondary source of this story is a pamphlet of the Choral Society at Trinity College Dublin. The original source is not known to this author.

The premiere of Messiah took place at the Music Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742. Handel led the performance from the harpsichord, and Matthew Dubourg conducted the orchestra. Dubourg was an Irish violinist, conductor and composer. He had worked with Handel as early as 1719 in London.

Handel conducted Messiah many times, often altering it to suit the needs of the moment. In consequence no single version can be regarded as the "authentic" one, and many more variations and rearrangements were added in subsequent centuries — a notable arrangement was one by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Most modern performances

The house where where Handel wrote Messiah is now open to the public as the

The "Hallelujah Chorus"

The most famous movement is the "Hallelujah Chorus", which concludes the second of the three parts. The text is drawn from three passages in the New Testament book of Revelation:

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. ()

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. ()

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. ()

In many parts of the world, it is the accepted practice for the audience to stand for this section during a performance. Tradition has it that on first hearing the chorus, King George II rose to his feet, but the reason for this is still open to debate (some even doubting that the King was ever there). With him, the entire audience stood up.

Media

The first two parts of Handel's Messiah, as sung by the MIT Concert Choir:

Messiah Messiah (Haendel) 메시아 (헨델) Messiah Messiah Messias (Händel) Mesjasz (oratorium) Messias (oratorium) 弥赛亚 (清唱剧)