Messiah

The oratorio being analyzed for its musical richness and emotional impact.

“Well, the music, and I've thought about this a lot, why is the Messiah so different? And as a performer, I could say there's no other piece of Handel or any other piece for that matter in which I feel like I have such a connection with the audience. And unlike…”

A celebrated oratorio that is noted for its universal, redemptive, and uplifting qualities.

“I think if you're Christian, it's redemptive. But it's interesting that people who aren't Christian find it uplifting, warming, encouraging, joyful.”

The famous oratorio composed by Handel, noted for its unique melodic hooks and scriptural text.

“... think of as being such genius and such unique, these great melodic hooks that we think are so original. Messiah, in fact, Handel borrowed from Italian duets. So that one of the famous choruses is, "For unto us a child is born," and everybody has it in thei…”

The oratorio composed by Handel that gained significant success through its charitable premiere in Dublin.

“No, because Handel's music was already known and liked, and that was a very good reason for going there. Handel had a very good friend in the form of the first violinist at the Lord Lieutenant's Orchestra. And the fact that his music was known there was one re…”

The central oratorio being discussed, analyzed for its artistic merit and shifting cultural significance.

“[laughs] And I think certainly, uh, the first part of Messiah is kind of the Christmassy part, which is be- why it's become, you know, it's, it's the shepherds. Um, uh, there's very comforting pastoral music, and that's the kind of favorite first part. So for …”

The oratorio composition by Handel that is the subject of the discussion.

“Once I was called subtle, and my wife laughed. [laughs] Um, but, um, I have performed it many times. Uh, it's such a unique piece, and talking about its place in history and its place in Handel's career, I think going back to what Donald was saying and where H…”

The musical oratorio composed by Handel, which is the central subject of the discussion.

“It doesn't, you know. And in many ways, in terms of composition, the best arias are in part three. Um-”

The musical work by Handel that underwent many practical revisions and versions.

“Yeah. And, and I think it's worth saying, going back to this question of why is Messiah so popular, there's a practical reason. Handel had at least 10 versions of Messiah, and-”

A famous musical work by Handel used as a comparison for the practice of reusing compositions.

“Well, I brought it up and I said, you know, I felt this movement was incredibly strong, powerful, interesting, dark. It was a lot of things. And I was saying to my friends and family, "You know, I, I don't know how I feel about this," that one of the main comp…”

A famous musical piece cited as an example of religious music that transcends its original context.

“To what degree is your new oratorio Wealth of Nations a, quote, "religious piece"? When I think of Messiah, plainly it is a religious piece in that it's a religious tale and religious figures and so on. On the other hand, it was first performed in a music hall…”

Mentioned as a biblical figure who trusted in God's promises despite the distance in time.

“closer. That doesn't mean that God is not working. You have to keep seeing it by faith. Keep waving it in. Keep talking like it's coming. Keep expecting things to change, not moved by how far off it is, but fully persuaded that God will do what He promised. 20…”

Cited as an example of Bach's complex musical structure and his eventual subversion of that structure.

“Well, you know, this is a great example again of artists being drawn to structures that they don't even know are pieces of mathematics. And actually, the Möbius strip hadn't even been discovered, uh, yet Bach had already realized it in musical form. So he used…”