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Handel's Messiah and His English Oratorios: A Closer Look
Paperback / softback
Main Details
Title |
Handel's Messiah and His English Oratorios: A Closer Look
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Authors and Contributors |
By (author) Ben Finane
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Series | Magnum Opus |
Physical Properties |
Format:Paperback / softback | Pages:144 | Dimensions(mm): Height 198,Width 129 |
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Category/Genre | Music Theory of music and musicology Bands, groups and musicians |
ISBN/Barcode |
9780826429438
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Classifications | Dewey:782.23092 |
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Audience | Professional & Vocational | |
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Publishing Details |
Publisher |
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Imprint |
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
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Publication Date |
1 May 2009 |
Publication Country |
United Kingdom
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Description
Messiah, Handel's massive drama of human redemption, was his most famous work, and indeed the most popular oratorio in the history of Western music. After more than 250 years, it has the power to move listeners spiritually and musically. Drawing from both Testaments of the Bible, including the prophecy of Isaiah, the Christmas story, the crucifixion, and the revelation, (which contains the famous Hallelujah chorus), Handel's Messiah has spawned groups of listeners dedicated to its performance. Musically, Messiah ranges from madrigal to aria, with an unvarying transparency of expression, imbued with humility and grace. Ben Finane's treatment of this choral work casts new light on the Messiah, for experts and neophytes alike.
Author Biography
Ben Finane lives in New York City where he writes on classical music for the Newark Star-Ledger, San Francisco Chronicle, New Criterion, Stereophile, Time Out New York, and other publications.
ReviewsTitle Mention in Musical Times, September 2009
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