Comfort Ye from Handel's Messiah



Write on Comfort Ye from Handel's Messiah

Much of the libretto comes from the Old Testament. The first section draws heavily from the book of Isaiah; that which prophesies the coming of the Messiah. There are few quotations from the Gospels; these are at the end of the first and the beginning of the second sections. They comprise the Angel going to the shepherds in Luke? two enigmatic quotations from Matthew and one from John: "Behold the Lamb of God". The rest of the second section is composed of prophecies from Isaiah and quotations from the evangelists. The third section includes one quotation from Job ? the rest primarily from First Corinthians.

Interesting? too? is the interpolation of choruses from Revelation. The well-known "Hallelujah" chorus at the end of Part II and the finale chorus "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" ("Amen") are both taken from Revelation—a book of prophecies in the New Testament.

The libretto was compiled by Charles Jennens and consists of fragments of verses from the King James Bible. Jennens conceived of the work much as an opera with three acts? each comprised of several scenes:

I -- The Birth

i -- The prophecy of Salvation

ii -- The prophecy of the coming of the Messiah

iii -- Portends to the world at large

iv -- Prophecy of the Virgin Birth

v -- The appearance of the Angel to the shepherds

vi -- Christ's miracles

II -- The Passion

i -- The sacrifice? the scourging and agony on the cross

ii -- His death? His passing through Hell? and His resurrection

iii -- His Ascension

iv -- God discloses His identity in Heaven

v -- The beginning of evangelism

vi -- The world and its rulers reject the Gospel

vii -- God's triumph

III -- The Aftermath

i -- The promise of redemption from Adam's fall

ii -- Judgment Day

iii -- The victory over death and sin

iv -- The glorification of Christ

Looking at this breakdown? it becomes easy to determine which sections are deemed appropriate for Christmas? and which for Easter.

Part I? numbers 1-18 correspond to scenes I i-v? and are primarily considered Christmas movements. Part I? numbers 19-20 and Part II? number 22 can be considered cross-over movements? with the rest being considered appropriate for Easter. In this schema? the "Hallelujah" chorus? considered by many to be a Christmas song? is firmly part of the Easter section. However? many choral societies perform the entire work at either time of year? much to the enjoyment of audiences.

In the summer of 1741 Handel? at the peak of his musical powers but depressed and in debt? began setting Charles Jennens' Biblical libretto to music at his usual breakneck speed. In just 24 days? Messiah was complete. However it was not performed until 1742? at a charity concert on Fishamble Street near Dublin's Temple Bar district on 13 April after production difficulties and last-minute rearrangements of the score. As Dean of ...