George Frideric Handel: Why do the nations so furiously rage together
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
Why do the nations
So furiously rage together
Why do the people
Imagine a vain thing
Why do the nations rage
So furiously together
Why do the people
Imagine a vain thing
Imagine a vain thing
Why do the nations
So furiously rage together
And why do the people
And why do the people
Imagine a vain thing
Why do the nations rage
So furiously together
So furiously together
And why do the people
Imagine a vain thing
Imagine a vain thing
And why do the people
Imagine a vain thing
The kings of the earth rise up
And the rulers take counsel together
Take counsel
Take counsel together
Against the Lord
And against His anointed
Against the Lord
And His anointed
The Music
Set as an Air for the bass, the vigorous opening from the orchestra sets a continuous motion theme that drives the energy forward. Long melismatic lines fall on the word ‘rage’ to create very colourful and powerful word painting. The sheer drive of this piece is largely unmatched within the whole oratorio, and so it is the ideal piece to open the sixth and final scene of Part II of the Messiah.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
Happy Reading!
You might also enjoy… Project Messiah
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