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!

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You might also enjoy… George Frideric Handel: Comfort Ye, My People

 

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