Messiah (Handel)

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.

Related Topics:
1741 - Oratorio - George Frideric Handel - Judaism - Christianity - Messiah - Jesus - King James Bible

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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.

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

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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. 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.

Related Topics:
Easter - Advent - Christmas - Soprano - Aria - Christian

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See also: Scratch Messiah

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