Post by Admin on Feb 10, 2020 21:51:56 GMT
This study begins with a look at the character of the Messiah through Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV):
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Verse 6 is the text used in well-known chorus No. 12, For Unto Us a Child is Born.
Here is some background on the man who selected the scripture for Messiah.
Librettist Charles Jennens, who was a close friend and collaborator with Handel, described his work as “a meditation of our Lord as Messiah in Christian thought and belief.” Only the first third of the work was about the birth of Jesus. The second act covers the death of Jesus and the third focused on his resurrection. As such, the piece was originally conceived as a work for Easter and was premiered in the spring during the Lent season.
Jennens, a wealthy 18th-century scholar who never asked for a penny for his many libretti for Handel, helped establish the composer's immortal fame and popularity. When Handel finally completed it, Jennens' contribution was considered so important that Handel wrote to him of the triumphant first performance in Dublin in 1742, referring to "your oratorio Messiah." He was a scholar, collector, Shakespeare editor and the man who probably brought the first piano into England, on which Handel performed after dinner. Jennens, a solitary man with few close relatives – his mother, brothers, sisters, and half brother were all dead before he was 30 – was devoutly religious, sometimes irascible, severely depressed and lived reclusively in his Leicestershire mansion. From college days some of his greatest pleasure, and closest friendships – particularly with Handel – came from his love of music.
Jennens's libretto makes the Messiah – but Handel's music makes it accessible to and loved by people all over the world.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Verse 6 is the text used in well-known chorus No. 12, For Unto Us a Child is Born.
Here is some background on the man who selected the scripture for Messiah.
Librettist Charles Jennens, who was a close friend and collaborator with Handel, described his work as “a meditation of our Lord as Messiah in Christian thought and belief.” Only the first third of the work was about the birth of Jesus. The second act covers the death of Jesus and the third focused on his resurrection. As such, the piece was originally conceived as a work for Easter and was premiered in the spring during the Lent season.
Jennens, a wealthy 18th-century scholar who never asked for a penny for his many libretti for Handel, helped establish the composer's immortal fame and popularity. When Handel finally completed it, Jennens' contribution was considered so important that Handel wrote to him of the triumphant first performance in Dublin in 1742, referring to "your oratorio Messiah." He was a scholar, collector, Shakespeare editor and the man who probably brought the first piano into England, on which Handel performed after dinner. Jennens, a solitary man with few close relatives – his mother, brothers, sisters, and half brother were all dead before he was 30 – was devoutly religious, sometimes irascible, severely depressed and lived reclusively in his Leicestershire mansion. From college days some of his greatest pleasure, and closest friendships – particularly with Handel – came from his love of music.
Jennens's libretto makes the Messiah – but Handel's music makes it accessible to and loved by people all over the world.