Messiah Musings Part Four:

By Josiah Tazelaar

 "Messiah" was first performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742.  Handel was commissioned to compose something for three charitable organizations by the Lord Lieutenant of Dublin, namely the Foundling Hospital, prisoners' relief, and alms houses.  Handel asked the writer Charles Jennens to provide him with a libretto on the subject of the life of Jesus, and "Messiah" was the result.  (more about the libretto in a subsequent "Musings").  Handel then set about composing, and, in "25 feverish days", he completed the composition.  There are stories about this.  His manservant claims that Handel hardly slept at all, left much of the food he set at the door uneaten, raged like a lunatic at times, and wept openly often.  Once, he sobbed, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself!"  He was clearly inspired by this work. 

    He had full cooperation on the performance:  an excellent orchestra had been assembled under the conductor Dubourg.  Two choruses from leading cathedrals sang, and Mesdames Avolia dn Cibber were among the respected soloists. 

    Because Handel was an established, immensely popular composer, the Music Hall in Fishamble Street was totally sold out for the premiere.  Dublin papers begged the women not to wear hoops, and the men to leave their swords at home, so that there'd be more space.  The crowd was deeply moved by the performance, and so enthusiastic, that future performances were sure to be sellouts.  In some respects, the audience was like the opera crowd.  There were cheers and shouts (but no boos and hisses).  After Mme Cibber finished her solo "He Was Despised", a man (mindful of her reputation of immorality) called out:  "Woman, for this, thy sins be forgiven thee!!"

    Handel, a generous man, pledged to perform "Messiah" annually for the Foundling Hospital, and even donated the score to it, so that it would be a perpetual gift, but other conductors and even Parliament objected to this, and the gift had to be withdrawn, so that other cities and towns in Great Britain and the rest of the world could perform and hear it.  Handel, not quite understanding the rejection of his kind intention, had one of his monumental temper tantrums:  "Wot!!  For vat sal de Foundlinks put mein oratorio in de Parlement?  Te Teuffel!  Mein musik sal not go to de Parlement!!!"  (G.F. never lost his thick Deustch accent...)

    Nearly a year after its premiere, "Messiah" was introduced in London (March 23, 1743).  King George II, Handel's patron, was present.  What happened, exactly, at the start of the "Hallelujah" Chorus, is not certain, but George stood up, and when a King stands, everybody else must stand, too.  And they did.  It is generally assumed that George was so moved by the piece that he stood in honor of it (Maybe he had been advised by someone who had heard it in Dublin that this was the greatest chorus of them all, and he decided to stand).  But he could merely have been tired of sitting so long, and needed to stretch his legs.  Or, as some wag put it, he might have had hemorrhoids... (sorry about that!).  And, there is speculation by a modern school of thought that is much more sinister.  This will be mentioned in a future "Musings".  The bottom line is, a tradition was begun.  When "Hallelujah" begins, everyone stands.

    (A similar tradition began like that.  Attending an Opening Day baseball game in Washington, in 1911, the very large President W. H. Taft got up in the middle of the 7th inning in order to stretch.  When he stood, the crowd at Griffith Stadium, thinking the President was about to leave, rose out of respect.  But, as the home team Senators came to bat, he sat down again.  Hence, the 7th Inning Stretch!)

Continue to Part Five, click here

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

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