What can you possibly say about a piece of music that is so part of the fabric of our musical life? It’s loved by choirs and audiences the world over and listening to is a popular thing to do at Christmas, even though performances can exceed three hours. And — yes — it contains one of the most recognisable pieces of music ever written.
The story begins in 1742. Not in London, which had been Handel’s home for about 30 years, but in Dublin. He’d been invited to go there and conduct a series of charity concerts, and it just so happened that he’d written a fantastic new work.
Messiah has become so associated with Christmas that it’s also surprising to learn that Handel was in Dublin just after Easter that year. The musical world of the city was abuzz because of the great man’s presence and the promise of a new piece of music. The organisers of the premiere of Messiah quite rightly suspected that the hall would be packed out, and so, on the poster, women were told to save space by not wearing hooped skirts, and men were warned to leave their swords at home.
The Dublin premiere was a triumph — the papers raved about it and the crowd was happy, despite having their fashion choices and weaponry compromised for the evening. It was a hit too when first heard in London, where King George II started a tradition by standing during the Hallelujah Chorus.
The advent of big choral societies in England and the USA in the 1800s really cemented Messiah as a mainstay of the concert calendar. A trend started with larger than life performances of the oratorio — in New York and Boston you’d see hundreds of singers on the stage. And at one famous performance in London’s Crystal Palace, 2000 singers and an orchestra of 500 enthralled the audience. It felt like the greatest show on earth.
The spectacle of these performances was only part of the puzzle. Handel’s music — certainly the large choral sections — was deliberately direct and transparent. He wanted people to enjoy listening to it but also to be enthusiastic about performing it.
Handel had spent his career working with court orchestras and professional singers throughout Europe. But with his oratorios and especially Messiah, he wrote music that lets amateur choristers really shine. No wonder it continues to be a favourite throughout the year — but especially at Christmas.
Russell Torrance presents Classic Breakfast on ABC Classic (Monday to Friday, 6am–10am). In this weekly series, Russell Torrance gives his take on your burning questions about classical music.