Given in the following are links to some discussions of Handel’s Messiah. Several of these include the full set of lyrics, including scriptural references. Also one or two provide more elaborate thoughts about the history and impact of Messiah, including discussion of WHY the oratorio was written. At least one link provides a critique of its impact on Jewish/Christian relations.
Clearly a few brief comments about Messiah, before providing links to more extensive discussion:
1. The lyrics used in Messiah are all from the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testamint.
2. Handel wrote the music to the Oratorio, but it was his friend Charles Jennens who spent many months researching and selecting candidate scripture for Handel to include.
3. While Jennens work took any months, Handel’s composing of the music took less than a full month.
4. The first performance of Messiah was held in Dublin, Ireland, during Lent.
5. At the first London performance of Messiah, King George was so moved my the Hallelujah Chorus that he stood during it’s presentation. Apparently everyone else decided to stand as well. That tradition is still happening in the 21st century.
Handel’s Messiah Lyrics (posted in ROH Signal)
Handel’s Messiah – A Conversation with Albert Mohler and Calvin Stapert
Handel’s Messiah – Lyrics and Doctrine
Handel’s Messiah – Antipas.org
Handel’s Messiah – C. S. Lewis Institute
Is Handel’s Messiah Anti-semetic?
Handel’s Messiah Lyrics (how the Christadelphians think)
Charles Jennens the unsung inspiration behind George Frideric Handel’s Messiah
Sample Videos of Messiah Performance
Here is a full performance. There are many more found on YouTube.
Handel’s Messiah in Grace Cathedral (complete) – Beautiful HD – American Bach Soloists
Here ia an example of performance of the ‘Christmas Version’, which includes section 1 (up to “His Yoke Is Easy”), and ending with Hallelujah Chorus. This is followed by a Christmas Carol sing-along with the audience:
Handel vs Bach Oratorios
Clearly, in the classical choral music realm, Handel’s Messiah is not the only large work
To gain a bit of understanding to the difference between Handel and Bach Oratorios, here link to one of the six Cantata’s contained in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, BWV248. It is directed by Bach scholar Rudolph Lutz, who is organist of the St. Laurenzen Kirche in St. Gallen, Switzerland, where many of his concerts and lectures are held. (A one-hour drive from Nephew Doug and family, in Busingen am Hochrhein, Germany).
A “Bach Cantata” has a more or less standard format. Here’s one outline, according to SUNY Music 101:
1. Opening chorus
2. Recitative
3. Aria
4. Recitative
5. Aria
6. Chorale
The Bach Christmas Oratorio is therefor composed of 6 Cantatas, each covering different aspects of the Christmas story. We’ll focus on Cantata 4.
The first link below is to the German and English text. It can easily be seen that Bach’s Christmas Oratorio includes both scriptural references, as well as Bach’s own thoughts, in a way providing his commentary of Christ’s coming to earth.
Here are the lyrics:
Cantata BWV 248/4 – Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben
And here is the outline – note that it has an extra Recitative. No one seems to object.
1. Opening chorus
2. Recitative (Evangelist)
3. Recitative (Bass) and Chorale (Soprano)
4. Aria (Soprano) with Echo (a must-see/hear!)
5. Recitative (Bass) and Chorale (Soprano)
6. Aria (Tenor)
7. Chorale
And here is the video of this Cantata (with English subtitles):
J.S. Bach – Cantata BWV 248 IV Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben (J.S. Bach Foundation) (26:32)
And linked below is the entire Bach Christmas Oratorio, composed of the six individual Cantatas. As opposed to the more than two hours for the full version of Messiah in one concert, the Bach Christmas Oratorio is usually performed as six separate concerts, over a month and a half around the Christmas season. However, it should be noted that Handel’s “Messiah”, and Bach’s full Christmas Oratorio are both about 2.5 hours in duration.
J.S. Bach – Cantata BWV 248 Weihnachtsoratorium (J.S. Bach Foundation) (2:34:12)
Other Handel Oratorio Samples
It should be noted that Handel’s Messiah is unique among his oratorios, in that the lyrics are exclusively Biblical passages.
Here is a chorus from Handel’s Oratorio “Judas Macabeaus”, sung by a chorus in Ghana.
Sing Unto God! [Duet and Chorus] – Judas Maccabaeus (G. F. Handel) (03:04)
And here’s another Handel oratorio brief clip, with two reasonably famous musicians performing a duet from his 3-act Oratorio “Samson”:
Kathleen Battle Wynton Marsalis ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ G. F. Haendel (05:56)
And finally, back to Messiah, with the final wonderful chorus from Messiah, with another choral group in Ghana:
Worthy is the Lamb and Amen – Gramophone Chorus (07:16)
Extra Credit on BWV 248
The following webpage was assembled to compare the rendition of much of the Bach Christmas Oratorio between two directors and choruses, one English, and the other German.
Peter Schreier’s and John Eliot Gardiner’s Christmas Oratorio
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