San Antonio College Library

"Handel's extraordinary public career generated many myths, during and after his lifetime, that provide valuable insights into the reception of the man and his music. David Hunter here re-examines topics that are found in biographies and evaluates their significance to the changing perspectives of the composer in the course of two centuries"--Book jacket. To evaluate the familiar, even over-familiar, story of Handel's life could be seen as a quixotic...

In this pioneering study, respected musicologist Michael Marissen examines Handel's masterwork "Hallelujah Chorus," and uncovers a disturbing message of anti-Judaism buried within its joyous celebration of the divinity of the Christ. Anti-Judaism in Handel's Messiah.

Traces the personal life and musical career of George Frideric Handel, examines the development of his music, and analyzes his oratorios.

"Handel's frequent and extensive alterations to his scores yield much valuable information on musical and extra-musical matters. This book represents the most thorough study to date of Handel's compositional procedures in his English oratorios and musical dramas. David Hurley examines six major works composed between 1743 and 1751 (Semele, Hercules, Belshazzar, Solomon, Susanna, and Jephtha), explores changes in the autograph scores, and traces the...

George Frideric Handel, travelled much more widely after his birth in Halle in the Southern part of Saxony. As a young firebrand, he went to Italy where he created a sensation before settling in London for the last 40 years of his life. There a series of superb concertos, operas, and oratorios poured out of him: Messiah is simply one of dozens of immortal vocal masterpieces he produced there.