DAILY FUEL: Handel’s Choral Masterpiece “The Messiah”
One of the most beloved choral works of all time, THE MESSIAH, was completed by composer George Frideric Handel on this date in 1741. Using a text compiled from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer by Charles Jennens, the oratorio was created in 26 days and was first performed in Dublin in April of the following year by an orchestra that included strings, timpani, two trumpets and organ. Frequently performed during the Christian Advent season preceding the Christmas holiday, the piece is especially well-loved for its “Hallelujah” Chorus and is Handel’s best-known work.
