Program Notes

AT A GLANCE

Title: Messiah (Part II)
By: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Composed: 1741
Length: 50 minutes

Instrumentation: 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 trumpets, timpani, harpsichord, organ, and strings, plus vocal soloists and chorus

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

• One of the most admired composers of the Baroque era
• Most famous in his own day as a composer of 42 Italian operas
• Wrote the entirety of Messiah in just 24 days
• Presided over 36 performances of the oratorio

ABOUT THE MUSIC

The structure of Messiah is based on chorus and solo singing. Only a few movements are a duet or a combination of solo and chorus. The solos are typically a combination of recitative and aria. The arias are called “Air” or “Song,” some have a loose da capo form, repeating the first section after a sometimes contrasting middle section. Handel finds various ways to use the format freely, in order to convey the text.

The movements marked “Recitative” are accompanied only by the basso continuo. Recitatives marked “Accompagnato” are accompanied by additional string instruments. Handel uses four voice parts in both solo and chorus—soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Only once is the chorus divided in an upper chorus and a lower chorus, it is SATB otherwise. The orchestra scoring is simple: oboes, strings, and basso continuo of harpsichord, cello/bass, and bassoon. Two trumpets and timpani highlight the closing movement. Handel uses a cantus firmus on long repeated notes especially to illustrate God’s speech and majesty, such as “King of Kings” in the Hallelujah chorus.

Handel and his librettist, Charles Jennens, selected text from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Part I tells portions of the Christmas story; Part II reflects on the passion of Christ, his resurrection, and ascension; Part III concentrates on the promise of heaven, the day of judgment, and Christ’s ultimate triumph over sin and death.

Overture (orchestra)

Chorus
Behold the Lamb of God, that
taketh away the sin of the world.
(John 1:29)

Aria (alto)
He was despised and rejected
of men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief. He gave
His back to the smiters, and His
cheeks to them that plucked off
the hair: He hid not His face from
shame and spitting.
(Isaiah 53:3, John 1:6)

Chorus
Surely He hath borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows; He was
wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
the chastisement of our peace was
upon Him.
(Isaiah 53:4–5)

Chorus
And with His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:5)

Chorus
All we, like sheep, have gone
astray, we have turned ev’ry one
to his own way; and the Lord hath
laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6)

Accompagnato (tenor)
All they that see Him laugh Him
to scorn; they shoot out their lips,
and shake their heads, saying:
(Psalm 22:7)

Chorus
He trusted in God that He would
deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if
He delight in Him.
(Psalm 22:8)

Accompagnato (tenor)
Thy rebuke hath broken His heart;
He is full of heaviness; He looked for
some to have pity on him, but there
was no man, neither found He any
to comfort Him.
(Psalm 69:20)

Aria (tenor)
Behold, and see if there be any
sorrow like unto His sorrow.
(Lamentations 1:12)

Accompagnato (tenor)
He was cut off out of the land of
the living: for the transgression
of Thy people was He stricken.
(Isaiah 53:8)

Aria (soprano)
But Thou didst not leave His
soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer
thy Holy One to see corruption.
(Psalm 16:10)

Chorus
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and
be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of Glory shall come
in. Who is this King of Glory? The
Lord of Hosts: He is the King of Glory.
(Psalm 24:7–10)

Recitative (tenor)
Unto which of the angels said He
at any time: “Thou art My Son,
this day have I begotten Thee?”
(Hebrews 1:5)

Chorus
Let all the angels of God worship Him.
(Hebrews 1:6)

Aria (soprano)
Thou art gone up on high; Thou
hast led captivity captive, and
received gifts for men; yea, even
from Thine enemies, that the Lord
God might dwell among them.
(Psalm 68:18)

Chorus
The Lord gave the word; great was
the company of the preachers.
(Psalm 68:11)

Aria (soprano)
How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things.
(Romans 10:15)

Chorus
Their sound is gone out into all
lands, and their words unto the ends
of the world.
(Romans 10:18)

Aria (bass)
Why do the nations so furiously
rage together, and why do the
people imagine a vain thing? The
kings of the earth rise up, and
the rulers take counsel together
against the Lord and His anointed.
(Psalm 2:1–2)

Chorus
Let us break their bonds asunder,
and cast away their yokes from us.
(Psalm 2:3)

Recitative (tenor)
He that dwelleth in heaven shall
laugh them to scorn, the Lord shall
have them in derision.
(Psalm 2:4)

Aria (tenor)
Thou shalt break them with a rod
of iron; Thou shalt dash them in
pieces like a potter’s vessel.
(Psalm 2:9)

Chorus
Hallelujah, for the Lord God
Omnipotent reigneth. The
Kingdom of this world is become
the Kingdom of our Lord and
of His Christ; and He shall reign
forever and ever. King of Kings,
and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!
(Revelation 19:6, 11:5, 19:16)