Handel’s Messiah

Christmas was the indubitable favorite season for Paige, my late wife. And—Christmas never fully arrived for her until she heard the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Paige could not carry a tune in a hermetically sealed hand basket—but she loved music, with Handel’s Messiah at the top of her favorites. She was not alone in cherishing Handel’s magnum opus: traditionally, Audience members usually rise to their feet when the famous “Hallelujah” chorus begins. Supposedly King George II was so moved during the London premiere of the Messiah that he stood and then everyone else in the theater followed so as not to offend him.  –(Chicago Symphony Orchestra). Standing for the Hallelujah Chorus is still a common practice.

Early performances of the oratorio had a bumpy journey; occasionally Handel postponed, and sometimes cancelled performances. However, income from performances often lifted London’s Foundling Hospital out of bankruptcy from proceeds of its performances . The Messiah’s enduring quality is based on it’s central message, that Jesus Christ is our center.

Apparently, Handel had first thought of The Messiah as culmination of Easter, following the season of Lent. The Lenten forty-day period of fasting and repentance, he thought, would properly conclude with its triumphant jubilation. And it does also take a significant place in Easter celebration. The first time I heard Handel’s Messiah was at Easter, decades ago in the Presbyterian church down the street from our apartment. It was magnificently delivered!

It did not take long for Handel’s Messiah to become a staple in Advent and Christmas celebrations. Great works of art have a way of embedding themselves into our hearts and minds no matter the time or place. The story closest to what happened— in my humble opinion—it is something of a miracle; Handel took less than a month to compose the 260-page oratorio! According to The Tabernacle, Handel did nothing but compose during the twenty-four days; he ate sparingly, if any; he slept almost not at all, he had little to no communication with his helpers, but remained entirely in his room until the oratorio was completed.

Apparently, his friend Charles Jennens had written a libretto—taken from the Bible based on the life of Jesus Christ—and gave it to Handel. Another dramatic and saving gesture was given to Handel. Funding by a group of charities from Dublin, Ireland, commissioned him to compose a new work. The composition would be for a benefit performance. This event was to help free men from debtors’ prison. Handel would also receive his own commission for composing the work, which in turn helped him on his path to reversing his own misfortune. (Adapted from The Tabernacle).

When Paige was in the nursing home, I had a copy of The Hallelujah Chorus on my iPhone. At Christmas and Easter, I would play the recording for her. I have a compact Boze external speaker that gives authentic sound, giving sense of being in an concert hall. Her eyes always glowed with that glistening, joyful spirit as she drank in the words and music. When you listen—especially to the Hallelujah Chorous from The Messiah, you can understand why people stand as the first notes sound. It is said, without apparent contradiction, that It is the best known and most frequently performed oratorio in Western music. Click on  The Hallelujah Chorus link, and enjoy it this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas to each of you!

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2023