The Music Plays On — Handel’s Messiah
There are two major pieces that are now only associated with Christmastime that originally had nothing with the holiday. One of them is Handel’s oratorio, Messiah.
By the time Handel wrote his sixth oratorio, Messiah, in 1741, the German composer had lived in England for almost three decades. He spent the first part of his English career writing Italian operas, which were all the rage. However, as tastes changed and the public’s desire for a more chaste evening of entertainment grew, Handel turned away from opera and began writing oratorios in the 1730's.
The premiere took place in Dublin on April 13, 1742 and received its London premiere about a year later….both during Easter time. In its entirety — three parts — it tells the story of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. However, advent season is the time of year in which most Christians reflect upon the life of Christ, so it is not sacreligious to perform Messiah during this time, but hearing the piece in its entirety during Easter lends to the celebratory nature of the holiday.
Handel’s forces for the premiere and subsequent performances during his lifetime were small and modest. As the piece gained…
