music
December 16, 2025
The Genius of Handel’s 'Messiah'
The oratorio is a feat of sustained inspiration arguably unsurpassed in the canon of Western classical music.
TL;DR
- Handel was the first composer whose work achieved lasting fame, unlike predecessors like Monteverdi and Bach.
- Handel's enduring reputation rests primarily on his oratorio "Messiah," which is widely known and performed.
- Charles King's book, "Every Valley," examines the origins and impact of "Messiah," highlighting the crucial role of librettist Charles Jennens.
- Jennens, a wealthy and politically dissident figure, assembled the scriptural passages for "Messiah," which lacks a traditional plot.
- King's book also explores related historical contexts, including the story of Susannah Cibber, a singer in the premiere, and the British slave trade.
- Handel was a prolific composer who, despite facing bankruptcy, pioneered the English oratorio genre.
- Handel's musical style is characterized by its ability to convey a wide range of emotions and its direct, illustrative musical settings of text.
- The "Hallelujah" chorus is one of the most recognizable parts of "Messiah," and Handel himself reportedly had a profound experience while composing it.
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