One bitterly cold morning during the winter of 1741, an aging George Frederick Handel, eclipsed by new musical fashions, forced into bankruptcy and with only memories of former glories, returned to his room to find a thick package on the table. It contained a text made up of scriptural verses. Dazed by cold and hunger, Handel leafed through the pages.
“Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God… The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light… For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given… and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. The Mighty God… He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief… He looked for someone to have pity on Him, but there was no man; neither found He any to comfort Him… But thou didst not leave His soul in hell…” Excitedly he read on: “I know that my Redeemer liveth…”
The words were an inspiration and he began to compose Messiah. For twenty four days he worked incessantly. He saw no one and barely ate or slept, writing until his fingers could no longer hold the pen. When he finished the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ he sobbed, “I did think I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself.”
Handel was 56. In succeeding years he would become blind and ill, from now on his generous spirit would prevail against all adversities. From 1750 on Messiah was performed annually under his direction for London’s Foundling hospital, England’s first refuge and hospital for abandoned children. In the years that followed Messiah generated huge amounts of money for these children – and became arguable the most popular classical work of all time.
Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year with best wishes from Ian McDermott and all the team at ITS
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