1. George Frideric Handel: Messiah as an Oratorio by Roy Chan Date: December 1, 2008
“Handel is so great and so simple that no one but a professional musician is unable to understand him.” -- Samuel Butler ( )
Victorian author

2. Biography Born in Germany on February 23, 1685 to April 14, 1759
Baroque composer who is famous for his operas, concerti grossi, and oratorios
Oratorio – large musical composition that includes orchestra, a choir, and soloists
Handel wrote the first English oratorio called the Messiah
Handel’s music had largely influence Mozart, Beethoven, and Hadyn works

3. What is the Messiah?
Messiah – “the anointed one”, meaning a work about Jesus’ life and it’s relationship with Christianity
Composed on April 13, 1742 in Dublin
The work is based on a libretto by Charles Jennens, who assembled the Messiah together
Libretto – an extended musical work opera, ballet, and oratorio

4. The Text Performed during Advent (during Christmas season)
Deals with both the Old and New Testament
Score contains SATB soloists, SATB chorus, 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings, and basso continuo
Divided into three parts:
1) Advent and Christmas Stories
2) Christ’s passion, resurrection, ascension, and evangelization
3) The Revelation to St. John

5. Oratorio in Three Parts
Part I: The Birth
Scene 1: The prophecy of Salvation
Scene 2: The prophecy of the coming of the Messiah
Scene 3: Portents to the world at large
Scene 4: Prophecy of the Virgin Birth
Scene 5: The appearance of the Angel to the shepherds
Scene 6: Christ's miracles
Part II: The Passion
Scene 1: The sacrifice, the scourging and agony on the cross
Scene 2: His death, His passing through Hell, and His resurrection
Scene 3: His Ascension
Scene 4: God discloses His identity in Heaven
Scene 5: The beginning of evangelism
Scene 6: The world and its rulers reject the Gospel
Scene 7: God's triumph
Part III: The Aftermath
Scene 1: The promise of redemption from Adam's fall
Scene 2: Judgment Day
Scene 3: The victory over death and sin
Scene 4: The glorification of Christ

6. Fun Facts “Messiah,” NOT “The Messiah”
Messiah was once called A Sacred Oratorio
Handel’s Messiah was intended for Easter not Christmas
The Messiah was first performed in Dublin and not in London where he wrote this piece
Most popular work in Western choral literature today
The entire Messiah was written in 24 days
Handel was once performed the Messiah at the Founding Hospital in a children’s home which ultimately led the work to be performed yearly today

7. Handel House Museum Today
Located in London on 25 Brook Street
Is open to the public
Contains a lot of fine and decorative art works
There are weekly recitals every Thursday
This is the house where he wrote the Messiah

8. Recordings Today on CD

9. UCI Holiday Concert (Holifest) @ HIB 100 in 7:30pm; Admission: $5.00
Featuring the UCI Choir – Chamber Singers, Women’s Chamber Choir, Men in Blaque, and University Chorus
Christmas music from:
“Wonderful Time of the Year”
“Little Drummer Boy”
“White Christmas”
“Silent Night”
“Feliz Navidad”
Encore presentation of Handel’s Messiah
And much much more….come and be merry!! 

10. Any questions???
“Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.”