Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language
oratorio composed in 1741 by
George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by
Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742, and received its London premiere the following year. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, becoming one of the most frequently performed choral works in Western music. Although
its structure resembles that of
opera, it is not in dramatic form, but a reflection on
Jesus Christ as
Messiah. Handel begins
Part I with prophecies by
Isaiah and others, and moves to the
annunciation to the shepherds, the only "scene" taken from the
Gospels. In
Part II he concentrates on the
Passion and ends with the Hallelujah Chorus. In
Part III he covers the
resurrection of the dead and Christ's glorification in heaven. Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces; after his death, the work was adapted for performance with much larger orchestras and choirs. Its orchestration was revised and amplified by (among others)
Mozart. Since the late 20th century, the trend has been towards authenticity. (
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