* A performance of Handel's "Messiah" lasts about 2 1/2 hours. Amazingly, Handel composed the entire oratorio in only:
* Until Wagner's work in the 19th century, virtually all opera and oratorio texts were written by someone other than the composer. For "Messiah", Handel set to music the text selected by this man.
* "Messiah" is presented in three parts. Part I (the Christmas portion) starts with the prophecy and coming of Christ. Part II (the Easter portion) describes the passion and death of Christ. What is the theme of Part III?
* Although they never met, Handel and Bach are both giants of Baroque music. Handel's oratorios have more changes in texture than those of Bach and the ____________ is more prominently featured in Handelian oratorios.
* Typical Baroque musical idioms are used by Handel throughout "Messiah". These include ritornello form, basso continuo, terraced dynamics and:
* "Messiah" is the exception to the definition of oratorio because it has no:
* "Messiah" premiered in 1742 in the city of:
* Although the premier was very successful, "Messiah" received a poor reception in London because of religious objections to:
* "Messiah" is Handel's only English oratorio that uses text from:
* In Handel's day, the orchestra and chorus for "Messiah" were significantly smaller than those with which we are used to seeing it performed today. The chorus was only 20 singers and they were:
* In the Baroque period, sacred and secular music were very similar in style. "For Unto Us a Child is Born", the twelfth movement of "Messiah", derives much of it's melodic content from:
* Why do most audiences stand when the "Hallelujah Chorus" is performed?
* Although born and reared in Halle, upper Saxony, Handel is considered to be the premier composer of England. Upon his death in 1759, over 3,000 mourners attended his funeral which was held in this famous place.