George Frideric Handel: He Trusted in God
Messiah Part II
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
He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He
Delight in Him. (Psalm 22: 8)
The Music
Carrying on with the words from Psalm 22, He Trusted in God reveals the mocking and uproar from the crowds. Set into a strict fugue, this chorus piece is driven by syncopated rhythms and a strong orchestral foundation. Call and response figures show the conversational tone of this piece. Set in C minor, the dark undertones of the words become menacing and in parallel in some ways to J.S. Bach’s Passions. The glorious resolution at the end creates both relief and uneasiness, leaving you hanging for the next movement.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy Reading!
You might also enjoy… Project Messiah
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