What to Listen for in Handel’s Messiah
Every December, audiences around the world gather to experience the soaring beauty of Handel’s Messiah. It’s one of those rare works that transcends time — a 280-year-old masterpiece that still feels alive, fresh, and deeply human every time it’s performed. Whether you’ve heard Messiah a hundred times or are coming to it for the first, here’s what to listen for — and what makes it so special.
The Spirit of the Oratorio
Messiah isn’t an opera, even though Handel was one of the greatest opera composers who ever lived. Instead, it’s an oratorio — sacred music for chorus, soloists, and orchestra, designed for the concert hall rather than the theater. But don’t let that fool you: Messiah is full of drama, contrast, and character. Handel paints scripture with the same emotional intensity he once reserved for kings, villains, and lovers on the operatic stage.
The Arc of the Story
The work unfolds in three parts:
Prophecy and Birth – The longing of humanity and the coming of the Christ child. Listen for the tender lilt of “For unto us a Child is born” and the pastoral calm of “He shall feed His flock.”
Passion and Redemption – The heart of the drama, tracing Christ’s suffering, crucifixion, and victory. The chorus “Surely He hath borne our griefs” captures the weight of human sorrow, followed by the radiant hope of “Lift up your heads.”
Resurrection and Triumph – The final section bursts with joy and assurance: “The trumpet shall sound,” and of course, the jubilant “Hallelujah” chorus, where tradition invites us all to rise in celebration.
Handel’s Musical Storytelling
What’s remarkable is how Handel brings these ancient words to life. He uses music to paint meaning:
Long, flowing lines for comfort (“Comfort ye, my people”)
Leaping melodies for joy (“Every valley shall be exalted”)
Tumbling rhythms for excitement (“And He shall purify”)
Majestic trumpets and drums for divine triumph (“Glory to God,” “The trumpet shall sound”)
It’s a reminder that Messiah isn’t just about sacred text — it’s about emotion, humanity, and hope.
What to Listen For
The Orchestra’s Color: Handel’s writing is transparent and elegant; each instrument supports the text like light through stained glass.
The Soloists’ Storytelling: Each aria is a window into reflection, prophecy, or joy.
The Choir’s Power: From the whispered devotion of “Since by man came death” to the blazing finale “Worthy is the Lamb,” the chorus gives the work its spine and spirit.
Why It Still Matters
When Handel finished Messiah, he reportedly said, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.” Every performance since has tried to capture a glimpse of that same vision — not as a performance of perfection, but as a living act of praise and community.
So when you come to hear Messiah with Zephyr Symphony, listen not only for the beauty of the music, but for the way it invites us to participate in something larger than ourselves — a centuries-old conversation of faith, humanity, and joy that continues to resonate today.
See you at the concert — and yes, feel free to stand for the “Hallelujah” chorus.
With gratitude,
Don Scott Carpenter
Founding Music Director, Zephyr Symphony