Charles Jennens, Jr., a friend of Handels, gave him a
libretto, an assembled text, for a sacred work. It was essentially an assembly
of Bible verses, focused on the Messiah, both from the Old and New Testaments. He
is the one who carefully gleaned through the King James Bible and assembled the
verses. These words are what Handel composed his glorious melody to accompany.
Jennens assembled his biblical texts for “Messiah” to prove the
life of Jesus had been prophesied in the Old Testament. It was not just
convention or tradition that made Christianity vital – Christianity was an
eternal truth.
The libretto of “Messiah“ consists of 73 verses from the
King James Version of the Bible—42 from the Old Testament, 31 from the New—all
pointing to Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ . . . the Anointed One . . . the
Messiah.
Rev. John Moore is a music minister who has directly
participated in 300 performances of “Messiah”—either as a conductor, singer, or
trumpet player. Moore said: “The Enlightenment, a European intellectual
movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and
individualism rather than tradition, had come into being, and there were many
people that were rejecting Christianity. And Deism was the religion of the
elite. And there was one man named Charles Jennens who wanted to counteract
that. He provided the libretto, and as a result, this incredible masterpiece of
music with a Christian emphasis has been a major work throughout the centuries
since it was written.”
Jennens was born in 1700.
He was brought up in Leicestershire, England, the son of Charles Jennens
and his second wife. He was schooled at Balliol College in Oxford but did not
graduate.
Jennens never married. He was described as being melancholic
and extravagant. He devoted himself to the arts, both as a collector and music
patron.
Handel and Jennens became close friends. Handel visited him
frequently at Gopsall Hall and provided the specifications for an organ for his
home. Gopsall Hall was built for Jennen’s father, in a park of 300 acres, to
house his fine art collection. Jennens died in 1773. He was an English
landowner and patron of the arts.
Now to our famous composer. George Frideric Handel was born
in 1685, in Germany, spending the majority of his life in England. His father
tried to discourage his musical interests, preferring that he enter the legal
profession. His mother bought him a harpsichord, which they kept up in the
attic, secret from his father. It was the organ, harpsichord and violin that
captured his heart.
By the time he was twelve, Handel wrote his first musical
work. Once, accompanying his father to the court of Duke Johann Adolf, George
wandered into the chapel, found the organ, and started improvising. The
startled Duke exclaimed, “Who is this remarkable child?”
After his father’s death, Handel tried to study law, but he
had no interest. So, he studied music at the University of Halle.
By his twenties, he was the talk of England and the
best-paid composer on earth. He opened the Royal Academy of Music. Londoners
fought for seats at his every performance, and his fame soared around the
world.
But the glory passed. Audiences dwindled. His music became
outdated, and he was thought of as an old fogey. Newer artists eclipsed the
aging composer. One project after another failed, and Handel, now bankrupt,
grew depressed. The stress brought on a case of palsy that crippled some of his
fingers. “Handel’s great days are over,” wrote Frederick the Great. “His
inspiration is exhausted.”
Handel seemed all washed up—with his best days behind him.
But writing “Messiah” proved to be the positive turning point in his life. He
was 56 years old.
One morning Handel received by post a manuscript from his
friend, Charles Jennens. It was a word-for-word collection of various biblical
texts about Christ. The opening words from Isaiah 40 moved Handel: “Comfort ye,
comfort ye my people . . .”
On August 22, 1741, he shut the door of his London home and
started composing music for the words. Twenty-three days later, the world had “Messiah.”
“Whether I was in the body or out of the body when I wrote it, I know not,”
Handel later said, trying to describe the experience.
Handel composed “Messiah” without getting much sleep or even
eating much food. When his assistants brought him his meals, they were often
left uneaten. His servants would often find him in tears as he composed. When
he completed the “Hallelujah Chorus” he reportedly told his servant, “I did
think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His
throne, with His company of angels.”
“Messiah” opened in London to enormous crowds on March 23,
1743. King George II, who was present that night, surprised everyone by leaping
to his feet during the “Hallelujah Chorus.”
From that day on audiences have stood in reverence during
the stirring words: “Hallelujah! For He shall reign forever and ever.”
Handel’s fame was rekindled and even after he lost his
eyesight, he continued playing the organ for performances of his oratorios
until his death in London, April 14, 1759.
In his lifetime, Handel eloquently composed 42 operas; 29
oratorios; 16 organ concerts; over 120 cantatas, trios, and duets; and numerous
musical pieces. Of his over 200 masterpieces, the most famous piece is the “Messiah”
Section One
Studylight.org, Barclay’s Daily Study Bible: “Hallelujah”
literally means “Praise God.” Although “Hallelujah” appears only here in the
Bible, it occurs in a translated form frequently, beginning in Psalm 106,
carrying through to Psalm 118 . . . God is praised because salvation, glory,
and power belong to Him. Each of these three great attributes of God should awaken
its own response in the heart of man. The salvation of God should awaken the
gratitude of man; the glory of God should awaken the reverence of man; the
power of God is always exercised in the love of God and should, therefore,
awaken the trust of man. Gratitude, reverence, trust—these are the essential
elements of real praise.
Section 2
Bibleref.com: God's servants will reign forever and ever . . . When God creates a new heaven and a new earth, He gives redeemed mankind the privilege of ruling with Christ over His creation. Paul told the young pastor, Timothy: "If we endure, we will also reign with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12).
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: There shall be no more night
there: Heaven will be a place where the darkness of this age will be forever
gone. The light is not artificial, even from the sun – God Himself is the light
. . . They shall reign forever and ever: Heaven will be a place where God’s
people enjoy an eternal reign, in contrast to the limited duration of the
Millennium. It will never end.
Section 3
Studylight.org, Barne’s Notes on the Whole Bible: He has
supreme power over all the earth, and all kings and princes are subject to his
control.
Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: God and Creator, to whom the kingdom of nature and providence belongs; and by office, as Mediator, being made higher than the kings of the earth; hence He is more than a match for them, they cannot stand before Him.
Studylight.org, Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: He
has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and power over all things;
all the powers of earth and hell are subject to His check and control.
“Hallelujah” sounds so much more beautiful than simply just “Praise the Lord.” “Hallelujah” is almost music already, even without a musical setting.” Markus Rathey, Professor, Germany
The word “Hallelujah” can bring tears. Psalms merge elements of poem, song and glorification.” Dr. Dikkon Eberhart, Crosswalk.com
“Psalm 112 is titled “Hallelujah.” It speaks of the happiness of the saints, because it redounds [contributes greatly to a person's credit or honor] to the glory of God, and whatever we have the pleasure of He must have the praise of.” Matthew Henry, Blueletterbible.org
We stand for the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” and it always brings tears to my eyes. Especially when you know the group that is singing these beautiful words believes in and worships God.
This chorus is a gift from our loving God. It may be the
most worshipful music ever created. For the few minutes we stand and listen,
it’s as if we are brought into the very presence of God. It will last through
the end of time.
Ron Johnston, on Smallchurchconnections.com, tells the
following story: “There is a story told about Queen Victoria during her
coronation week when she was still a young woman. The new Queen was attending a
performance of “Messiah” when it was announced that, as was traditional,
everyone, with the exception of the Queen, would stand at the beginning of the “Hallelujah
Chorus.” As was commanded, when the chorus began, everyone rose with their
heads bowed out of respect.
"As the choir sang those famous words, the Queen was deeply moved. Her lips trembled, tears came to her eyes and her body shook. Finally, as the chorus reached its pinnacle with the words “King of kings and Lord of lords” the queen couldn’t remain seated any longer. She rose to her feet and stood with her head bowed for the remainder of the Chorus. One person’s comment was that she never did anything more noble, or more royal, through her reign as queen."
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