Many Have Heard of 'Handel's Messiah.' But Do You Know About Handel?

Townhall.com ^ | December 12, 2021 | Canon J. John

[Kaslin]

Handel’s Messiah, now as much a part of Christmas as mince pies and mistletoe, is one of the world’s greatest expressions of the Christian faith in music.

Its composer, George Frideric Handel, was born in 1685 in what is now Germany. Although his family discouraged him from a musical career, his astonishing natural talent proved unstoppable. Acquiring a wide range of skills, the young Handel found himself in Italy, where he began writing operas.

In 1712, Handel moved to London where many were fond of Italian opera and Handel could find a market for his talent. For nearly a quarter of a century, he composed a string of popular operas. Simultaneously, Handel became a composer for the Royal Court and when Britain acquired a German-speaking monarch, George I, Handel was the right man in the right place. He was naturalized as a British citizen in 1727 and immediately found himself writing music for the crowning of George II. These four Coronation Anthems – the most famous of which is Zadok the Priest – were so successful that they have been sung at every coronation since. There is a story that when a well-meaning bishop offered to help Handel find the words for the anthems, the composer responded, "I have read my Bible very well and I will choose for myself."

In the 1730s, opera started to become less popular in Britain. Handel, in financial trouble, was sent a manuscript by the writer Charles Jennens entitled Messiah. It was a skillfully put together sequence of Bible passages which told the entire story of salvation from the fall of humanity, through Jesus the suffering Messiah, to Christ’s future triumph. Behind it was something of an agenda: Jennens wanted to counteract the increasingly popular view which saw Jesus as little more than a good moral teacher. He did so by emphasizing that Jesus both fulfilled prophecy and was far more than just a man

Handel was inspired by the text and set to turning it into an oratorio – essentially an English-language opera without staging or costume – with astounding energy. In a remarkable burst of creativity, he wrote all the music in 24 days. At the very end of Messiah, Handel wrote the letters ‘SDG’ – Soli Deo Gloria – "To God Alone the Glory."

Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and was immediately recognized as a masterpiece. In London, King George II was present at its first performance and as the majestic ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ rang out, the king, possibly thinking it was the national anthem of heaven, rose to his feet and remained standing. It is a tradition that has endured.

With the success of Messiah, Handel finally gave up opera and turned to oratorio, most of them based on biblical subjects: Esther, Israel in Egypt, Solomon, Samson, Saul and many others.

Handel died in 1759 and was given a state funeral at Westminster Abbey attended by thousands. There he is commemorated by a statue holding the manuscript for a solo from Messiah, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."

As a man, Handel was well known publicly; a large individual who spoke in English often mixed with German, French and Italian. Despite that public presence, he was something of a private person. Although there were hints of romances, he never married. Spiritually, Handel had grown up in a firmly Christian family and in his four decades in London was a faithful Anglican. With death looming, Handel had a visit from the very devout Christian Countess of Huntingdon who came away confident of his spiritual state, reporting that "he is not dismayed at the prospect before him."

Handel was a musical giant with an enormous legacy but for Christians his supreme work is Messiah. Originally intended for the run up to Easter, it has become a Christmas classic. One of the perils of Christmas is the way that the focus falls on Jesus as a baby. Here, Handel’s music declaring that "He shall reign for ever and ever" is a good antidote.

In fact, with one reservation, I think Messiah may be one of the finest evangelistic works ever created.

First, Messiah gives a proclamation of the gospel. Jennens’ text is treated by Handel in a way that always emphasizes its sense. The result is something like a series of ornamented Bible texts: the music highlights the words without ever obscuring them.

Second, Messiah is an attraction to the gospel. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Messiah is that people who would defiantly resist attending any evangelistic event whatsoever, pay serious money to sit and listen to over two hours of solid Bible texts all pointing to Jesus.

Third, Messiah is full of jubilation in the gospel. Handel, a supreme dramatist in music, excelled himself in Messiah in producing lively, thrilling and ultimately joyful music. It’s difficult not to leave any performance of Messiah with anything less than a smile on our lips.

I mentioned a reservation. It is something raised by the great eighteenth-century preacher John Newton. He pointed out that many people were going to hear Messiah and coming away feeling that they had had a spiritual experience. The problem, he wisely pointed out, is that Handel’s Messiah doesn’t save us; it is the Jesus it points to who saves. So, by all means listen to Handel’s wonderful work but don’t neglect the message it carries. Messiah is proclamation, attraction and jubilation but – and here’s the important thing – it is also an invitation. This Christmas make sure that the Jesus that Messiah celebrates is your messiah.

[SES1066]

There is an excellent 2014 BBC Youtube biography of G F Handel that focuses of his 'journey to the Messiah'. As mentioned above, J S Bach and G F Handel, while never meeting, were near neighbors at birth in 1685. What a fine year, especially if you add the Italian maestro, P A G Scarlatti, of Palermo to that list!

For those who have an interest in further & deeper diving, BBC also has a 6 part 2013 Roger Goodall (host) "Story of Music" that is simply great. Episode 2 features the progression in Western Europe music from 1650-1750 which includes Handel & Bach.

[carcraft]

My favorite story about Handel’s Messiah was in a speech given by Dr. Ben Carson about operating on conjoined Black twins in South Africa during Apartheid. Dr Carson had operated all day. At10:00 pm he was exhausted and drained. Dr Carson stated he simply could not go on, he was exhausted, he stepped back from the operating table and prayed for God to help him or else the twins would die but he he was so exhausted he felt could not continue. Dr Carson resumed operating. The twins were separated and as the case finished dawn broke and the Hallelujah Chorus to Handel’s Messiah came on an old radio that was playing in the corner. That story still gives me goose bumps.

[gnickgnack2]

I saw a brother-sister duo win a talent contest singing this. Fan-TAS-tic!!!

[MHGinTN]

Blurry to these old eyes. I can almost hear the Hornpipe Symphony as the joy rises upon reading of Handel’s CHRISTIAN reality. (I know, the Hornpipe is for a coronation, but I hear it as a coronation for the Lord Christ as He is resurrected ...)

[Getready]

Wow....isn’t that a wonderful example instead of the violent mobs of today?

[the OlLine Rebel]

I really wish it would be emphasized at Easter as itoriginally was done and intended. And makes more sense, because the real miracle is when he rises and then returns to Heaven. As nicely acknowledged in “the Greatest Story Ever Told”.

I suspect it’s more that Christmas is just more popular. Which in turn may be the fact that we know exactly when Christmas is going to be every year, whereas Easter is a crap shoot where we have to scurry to look at astronomical charts.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Actually not that shocking. Many, many lived a long time. If they avoided major injury, some diseases and got past childbirth/childhood. The latter is what knocks down the average…and it’s the median that counts. If you make it past childhood (esp. Up to toddler) you’ll likely live like the rest of us today. Visit graveyards regularly and you’ll see this whole story.

[4everontheRight]

Thank you for sharing!

[Blennos]

This is a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.

[Sirius Lee]

Handel would keep his good port in a separate chamber when he was entertaining guests. He would serve them the cheap stuff to them and then slip off to his other chamber for a sip of the good stuff.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Ben Carson is a treasure and blessed of God.

[Cronos]

The Messiah is also a musical masterpiece. To wield two choirs and an orchestra together is the work of a supreme composer.

[Shady]

We have a community Messiah sing every Christmas season, and a lot of my friends are in the Chorus, of all faiths! When I was a kid our church choir was involved in one of the first of these.. we sang only the Christmas portion, but it is a marvelous work..

[Shady]

This one will absolutely enthrall you! https://youtu.be/wp_RHnQ-jgU

[bert]

The Messiah production is on youtube and is about 2 1/2 half hours long

[Larry Lucido]

Slightly off topic. Handel’s CB handle would have been “Handel with Care.” J.S. Bach’s would have been “I’m Bach.”

[Fiji Hill]

My favorite version of the National Anthem of Heaven. This is in German.

Hallelujah--The Berlin Radio Symphony (1963)

Halleluja!
Denn Gott der Herr regieret allmächtig.
Das Königreich der Welt ist fortan
Das Königreich des Herrn und seines Christ;
Und er regiert auf immer und ewig:
Herr der Herrn, der Welten Gott.
Halleluja!

(Hallelujah!
For God the Lord rules all-powerfully
The kingdom of the world is coming
The kingdom of the Lord and his Christ;
And he rules for always and eternally:
Lord of lords, the God of the world,
Hallelujah!)

[SmokingJoe]

Very good article for this Christmas season or any season.

[broken_clock]

Thanks for the link. I needed that!

[vaskypilot]

Thank you. I am watching the special on Handel. Excellent!