12-12-22<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This weekend I attended a performance of Messiah<\/em>, the famous oratorio by Handel. Inspiring, always. Familiar, too. The musical miracle of Handel\u2019s many great works, all three hours or so composed in about 23 days, invariably is heard this time of year, in concerts, on radio, even in snippets on TV commercials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is associated with Christmas but Handel intended, and lyricist Charles Jennens arranged Biblical passages, to tell the whole story of Christ, Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Incarnate Lord, Jesus. That is, not his \u201cbiography\u201d but the dramatic glory-story from prophecies to the Millennial Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I mention the words and concepts of the masterpiece because many people assume it is only Christmas music. As we shared here recently, the songs of salvation should never be filed away for one day or one holiday season \u2013 because that would mean they are neglected for the rest of the year. God forbid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Handel, the \u201cGreatest of English Composers\u201d (1685-1759) was in a sense three different men: The German Georg-Fridrich H\u00e4ndel, born in the Saxon town of Halle; the popular composer of Italian operas Georgi Federico Handel; and the English George Frideric Handel. He settled in England, serving occasional patrons and arranging his own concerts. His string of operas (the fad of the entertainment world then) gave way to religious oratorios through the years. He became more and more religious as he grew older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is often misstated that he was brought to England by the Georges, kings of Hanoverian birth. But he did execute many works for them (they craved the association) and among his early works in England (1717) was a commission for King George I, the Royal Water Music. <\/em>The Royal Fireworks Music<\/em> is equally famous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n H\u00e4ndel was born in the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach, slightly more than 100 miles from Bach’s town of Eisenach; and attended Martin Luther University. H\u00e4ndel and Bach, the two masters of Baroque composition, were aware of each other, but never met. They were born only months apart, and H\u00e4ndel outlived Bach by nine years. Ironically, they both suffered from blindness at the end of their lives, coincidentally treated by the same eye surgeon. Tragically, the doctor was something of a quack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n H\u00e4ndel, once nearly bankrupt in England, was relatively wealthy by the end of his life. He was always generous with his resources. He had financed the new organ that had its first use in the debut of Messiah. <\/em>H\u00e4ndel conducted that first performance, and annual concerts (in London) occurred every year until his death, all the proceeds going to his beloved charity, the Foundling Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Messiah <\/em>was first performed in Dublin, in the New Music Hall. Significantly, two choirs were engaged: from St Patrick’s and from Christ Church (Trinity) \u2013 a symbolic bow to Catholic and Protestant \u201charmony.\u201d Its initial presentation was over-subscribed; the crowds trying to enter resulted in SRO, and advance-ticket holders were turned away. H\u00e4ndel offered to conduct a second performance to satisfy the demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among his many great works, Messiah <\/em>was beloved of H\u00e4ndel. When he was close to death, his last prayer was that he lives until (and die upon) Good Friday \u2013 which would coincide with that year’s performance of Messiah. <\/em>God granted this wish, by hours. The version we know today was enlarged in scope by Mozart; the oratorio has been touched by history’s greatest masters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At this season, with such magnificent music, it is virtually impossible not to think of \u201cother things\u201d during the moments we pause to listen to the music\u2026 and the words. Oddly, the church where I attended a performance this weekend was in Flint, Michigan. \u201cOddly,\u201d I say, because a news story was published on Friday that by some metrics or other, Flint was judged the worst city in America among almost 500 in the survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in that beautiful church, hearing talented amateurs sing and play, proclaiming and believing the promises and reality of the Savior of humankind \u2013 unto us He was given<\/em> \u2013 all the news and noise of the neighborhood and the world melted away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality of a God who sent a Messiah to our world while we were yet sinners, must overcome the \u201creality\u201d of this corrupt world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n