George Frideric Handel: Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Messiah Part I
Context
George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Jennens, with the source being the King James Bible. The first performance of Messiah was on 13th April 1742, to celebrate Easter.
Initially the oratorio garnered a lukewarm reception from audiences, however the work began to gain popularity over some years, with it now being the go-to work to perform during the Easter period. During this new Messiah exploration on Classicalexburns, blogs will be posted regularly to cover all of the pieces involved in making up this much-loved oratorio.
The Lyrics
Every valley
Every valley shall be exalted
Shall be exalted
Shall be exalted
Shall be exalted
And ev’ry moutain and hill made low
The crooked straight
And the rough places plain
The crooked straight
The crooked straight
And the rough places plain
And the rough places plain
Every valley
Every valley shall be exalted
Every valley
Every valley
Shall be exalted
And ev’ry moutain and hill made low
The crooked straight
The crooked straight
The crooked straight
And the rough places plain
And the rough places plain
And the rough places plain
The crooked straight
And the rough places plain
The Music
This Air for tenor, and the second vocal piece of Part I of the Messiah, pushes straight on after Comfort Ye, My People. A stark change in character, this peppy song is full of vocal melismas (extravagant extensions of words and syllables). Based around the words ‘Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted’, which are often heard during Advent, this illustrative Air shows Handel’s creative use of the voice.
Handel relies a lot on word painting during this section, with words such as ‘Exalted’, ‘Crooked’ and ‘Valley’ all receiving extensive coloraturas. Whereas words such as ‘plain’ are handled much more obviously. The string and harpsichord accompaniment is bare and neatly supports the tenor, as well as often acting as an echo to the voice. The words prepare the way for the Lord, and the character of this Air adds to that anticipatory excitement.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy Reading!
You might also enjoy… George Frideric Handel: Comfort Ye, My People
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