Tainted Glory in Handel's Messiah : The Unsettling History of the World's Most Beloved Choral Work / Michael Marissen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Marissen, Michael, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759.

Handel, George Frideric.

Antisemitism in music.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (232 p.)

Place of Publication:

New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, [2014]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Every Easter, audiences across the globe thrill to performances of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," but they would probably be appalled to learn the full extent of the oratorio's anti-Judaic message. In this pioneering study, respected musicologist Michael Marissen examines Handel's masterwork and uncovers a disturbing message of anti-Judaism buried within its joyous celebration of the divinity of the Christ. Discovering previously unidentified historical source materials enabled the author to investigate the circumstances that led to the creation of the Messiah and expose the hateful sentiments masked by magnificent musical artistry-including the famed "Hallelujah Chorus," which rejoices in the "dashing to pieces" of God's enemies, among them the "people of Israel." Marissen's fascinating, provocative work offers musical scholars and general readers alike an unsettling new appreciation of one of the world's best-loved and most widely performed works of religious music.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

I. Introduction

II. Rejoicing Against Judaism in Handel's Messiah

III. The Messiah Libretto

Notes

Bibliographical Note

Works Cited

Index of Movements from Handel's Messiah

Index of Biblical Sources

Index of Names and Subjects

Also by Michael Marissen

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9780300206999

0300206992

OCLC:

879313243