Messiah Part I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Messiah |
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|---|---|
| (Part I) | |
| by George Frideric Handel | |
Manuscript of Nos. 15–16, Annunciation to the shepherds
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| Year | 1741 |
| Period | Baroque |
| Genre | Oratorio |
| Text | Charles Jennens, a compilation from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer |
| Composed | 22 August 1741–14 September 1741: London |
| Movements | 21 in five scenes |
| Vocal | SATB choir and solo |
| Instrumental |
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Messiah is a famous musical work called an oratorio. It was written by George Frideric Handel in 1741. An oratorio is like an opera, but it's usually based on a religious story and performed without costumes or scenery.
Messiah tells the story of Jesus Christ. It is divided into three main parts. This article focuses on Part I. Part I is often called the "Christmas" part. It tells about prophecies (predictions) of Jesus's birth. It also describes his birth and the angels telling shepherds the good news.
Part II of Messiah is about Jesus's suffering, death, and resurrection. Part III focuses on the idea of people rising from the dead and Jesus's glory in heaven.
What is Handel's Messiah?
The words for Messiah were put together by Charles Jennens. He took most of the text from the King James Bible. Jennens believed that the story of the Messiah was the most important topic.
Messiah is different from Handel's other oratorios. It doesn't have a clear story with characters. Instead, it's more like a deep musical reflection on different parts of the Christian Messiah.
As music expert Christopher Hogwood said, Messiah is "a meditation rather than a drama of personalities." This means it helps you think deeply about the story, rather than watching characters act it out.
How is Messiah Organized?
The oratorio's structure follows the Christian year. Part I matches Advent and Christmas. It covers the prophecies and birth of Jesus. Part II goes with Lent and Easter, telling about Jesus's death and rising. Part III is about the end of the church year, focusing on the future.
The birth and death of Jesus are mostly told using words from the prophet Isaiah. The only actual scene in the oratorio is the annunciation to the shepherds. This scene is taken from the Gospel of Luke. The idea of shepherds and lambs is important throughout the music.
The Music of Messiah
Handel was already a very successful composer when he wrote Messiah. He had written many Italian operas and other religious works in English. For Messiah, he used a mix of choir singing and solo singing.
Only two parts of Messiah are just instrumental (played by instruments only). These are the opening "Sinfony" and the "Pifa." The Pifa is a gentle piece that introduces the shepherds. Most of the solo parts are a combination of recitative (like spoken singing) and aria (a song for one voice).
Handel used four main voice types: soprano (highest female voice), alto (lower female voice), tenor (high male voice), and bass (lowest male voice). The orchestra is quite simple. It includes oboes, strings, and a basso continuo. The continuo is a group of instruments that play the bass line and chords. Sometimes, two trumpets and timpani (drums) are added for special moments. For example, they are used in the angels' song "Glory to God in the highest."
Handel used different musical styles to show the meaning of the words. He used both polyphony (many independent melodies at once) and homophony (all voices moving together). He often made a word stand out with long, flowing musical phrases called coloraturas. He also used long, repeated notes to show God's power and majesty.
Part I Summary
| No. | Title / First line | Form | Voice | Tempo | Scoring | Time | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinfony | French overture | Instrumental | Grave Allegro moderato |
Oboe |  |
E minor |
| 2 | Comfort ye | Accompagnato | Tenor | Larghetto e piano | |
E major | |
| 3 | Ev’ry valley | Aria | Tenor | Andante | |
E major | |
| 4 | And the glory ... of the Lord | Chorus | Allegro | Oboe | 3/4 | A major | |
| 5 | Thus saith the Lord Behold, I will send |
Accompagnato | Bass | |
D minor | ||
| 6 | But who may abide For he is like a refiner's fire |
Aria | Soprano, Alto, or Bass | Larghetto Prestissimo |
3/8 |
D minor (alto and bass) / A minor (soprano) | |
| 7 | And He shall purify | Chorus | Allegro | Oboe | |
G minor | |
| 8 | Behold, a virgin shall conceive | Recitative | Alto | |
D major | ||
| 9 | O thou that tellest good tidings Arise, shine |
Aria | Alto, Chorus |
Andante | Oboe (chorus) |
6/8 | D major |
| 10 | For behold, darkness | Accompagnato | Bass | Andante larghetto | |
B minor | |
| 11 | The people that walked | Aria | Bass | Larghetto | |
B minor | |
| 12 | For unto us a Child is born | Chorus | Andante allegro | Oboe | |
G major | |
| 13 | Pifa | Pastorale | Instrumental | Larghetto e mezzo piano | 12/8 | C major | |
| 14 | There were shepherds abiding | Recitative | Soprano | |
C major | ||
| 15 | And lo, the angel of the Lord | Accompagnato | Soprano | Andante | |
F major | |
| And the angel said | Recitative | Soprano | |
A major | |||
| 16 | And suddenly | Accompagnato | Soprano | Allegro | |
D major | |
| 17 | Glory to God in the highest | Chorus | Allegro | Oboe, Trumpet |
|
D major | |
| 18 | Rejoice greatly | Aria | Soprano or Tenor | Allegro | or 12/8 |
B-flat major | |
| 19 | Then shall the eyes of the blind | Recitative | Alto or Soprano | |
D major (alto) / G major (soprano) | ||
| 20 | He shall feed His flock Come unto Him |
Aria or Duet | Alto or Soprano (Aria) Alto & Soprano (Duet) |
Larghetto e piano | 12/8 | F major (alto) / B-flat major (soprano) | |
| 21 | His yoke is easy | Chorus | Allegro | Oboe | |
B-flat major | |
Part I Movements
1. Sinfony
The Sinfony is the opening instrumental piece. It has two parts: a slow, grand opening and a faster, more complex section. The music starts in a serious E minor key.
Scene 1: Prophecies of Salvation
This first scene talks about general predictions of salvation. It uses five verses from the Book of Isaiah. These verses foretell a return to Jerusalem after a time of captivity.
2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people
This is the first vocal piece, sung by a tenor. It uses words from God, starting with "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people."
3. Ev'ry valley shall be exalted
This song for tenor expands on the words "Ev'ry valley shall be exalted." This phrase is often heard during Advent. Handel uses musical "word painting" here. For example, long, flowing notes show "exalted," while a low note shows "low."
4. And the glory, the glory of the Lord
This is the first time the full choir sings. Joined by oboes, they announce God's glory. The music starts with one voice and then grows. The words "for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it" are sung with long, steady notes. This makes them sound very important and certain.
Scene 2: God's Appearance
Scene 2 describes God's appearance. It uses words from the prophets Haggai and Malachi.
5. Thus saith the Lord
The bass singer begins this piece: "Thus saith the Lord." When the text says "I will shake all nations," the music uses long, downward musical phrases. This makes it sound like shaking. When it says "the desire of all nations shall come," the word "desire" has long, upward phrases.
6. But who may abide
This song is for a soprano, alto, or bass. It shows how people might feel when God appears. It starts with a thoughtful question, "But who may abide?" Then, the music suddenly becomes very fast and powerful. It describes God being "like a refiner's fire." The singer uses strong, quick notes to show this fiery image.
7. And He shall purify
The choir continues the idea of purifying. The word "purify" is sung with quick, flowing notes. This piece is based on an earlier Italian song Handel wrote.
Scene 3: The Virgin Birth
After a general introduction, Scene 3 focuses on Isaiah's specific prophecy. It talks about the virgin birth of the Messiah.
8. Behold, a virgin shall conceive
This short alto recitative tells the prophecy: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive." The child will be "called Emmanuel," which means "God – with us." This prophecy is also mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew.
9. O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
This piece starts with the alto solo, then the choir joins in. It's like good news spreading. The music has a gentle, swinging rhythm. Words like "mountain" and "glory" are highlighted with flowing notes. The choir sings "arise" with a strong upward musical leap.
10. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
In a strong contrast, the bass sings about "darkness." The strings play mysterious, repeated musical ideas in the background. When the text changes to "but the Lord shall arise," the music becomes brighter. The word "glory" is sung with long, flowing notes.
11. The people that walked in darkness
This song continues the idea of darkness. The bass voice and cellos play together, creating a gloomy sound. But when the text says "have seen a great light," the music becomes lighter. The singer holds a long, high note on the word "light." This shows the sudden brightness.
12. For unto us a Child is born
The choir concludes this scene with the joyful news of Christmas. They sing "For unto us a Child is born." The music starts softly with the sopranos. It builds up to describe the child's names: "Won-derful," "Coun-selor," "The Mighty God," "The Everlasting Father," "The Prince – of Peace." This movement is based on an earlier happy song Handel wrote.
Scene 4: The Annunciation to the Shepherds
Scene 4 is the only actual scene in the oratorio. It tells the story of the annunciation to the shepherds from the Gospel of Luke. This is when angels tell shepherds about Jesus's birth.
13. Pifa
The shepherds are introduced by an instrumental piece called the Pifa. This music is named after Italian shepherd-musicians. It has a gentle, rocking rhythm, like a lullaby.
14. There were shepherds abiding in the field
The soprano voice sings a short recitative. It simply states, "There were shepherds abiding in the field."
15. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them
The soprano continues, describing the angel's arrival. The strings play lively music, like wings. The angel then tells the shepherds, "Fear not."
16. And suddenly there was with the angel
The soprano describes more angels appearing. The music becomes even more lively.
17. Glory to God
Handel introduces the trumpets for the angels' song, "Glory to God." He wanted them to sound like they were coming from far away. The high voices sing "Glory to God in the highest." Then, the lower voices sing "and peace on earth." The words "goodwill towards men" are sung quickly, one voice after another. After the song, the angels seem to disappear as the music fades away.
Scene 5: The Messiah's Deeds
Scene 5 summarizes what the Messiah will do on Earth. It combines texts from the prophets Zechariah and Isaiah, and the Gospel of Matthew.
18. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion
This is a very joyful and energetic song for the soprano. It says, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion." The word "Rejoice" is sung with long, flowing, happy notes. The music describes the King coming and bringing peace.
19. Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd
This recitative, sung by an alto or soprano, describes the Saviour's actions. It says, "Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd... and the tongue of the dumb shall sing."
20. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd
This piece combines words from Isaiah and Matthew. The alto sings, "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd." The music is gentle and reminds you of the Pifa. Then, the soprano sings, "Come unto Him, all ye that labour."
21. His yoke is easy
This is the final choir piece of Part I. It uses words from Matthew's Gospel: "His yoke is easy, and His burden is light." The music is light and easy-going. The word "easy" is sung with playful, flowing notes. The piece ends with everyone singing strongly, "and His burden is light."
See also
- Messiah (Handel)
- Structure of Handel's Messiah
- Messiah Part II
- Messiah Part III
