George Friderick Handel's "Messiah" is one of the best known and most popular classical compositions of all time, what most people don't know is the story behind it. Handel was at the time in disfavor with the king of England, and his career was in decline. He was in the midst of a deep depression. One night, as he laid on his bed, noticed a manuscript laying on the night table, that had sent to him (I believe by the poet Schiller), based on the life of Christ. He picked it up and began to read it. As he got into the text he began to feel a great deal of energy and inspiration. He sat down and proceeded to write down the musical ideas that came to his mind. The actual text of what he composed shows that he was composing at a precipitous speed. He wrote day and night without ceasing, and hardly sleeping, or even eating. His servant would knock on the door to bring him food, and it would remain there untouched. Some seventeen days or so later he finished his composition and collapsed and slept for a whole day non-stop. The actual finished product is the oratorio we know as "The Messiah." On opening night the King of England was present. When the part that says "King of King, Lord of Lords, He shall reign forever and ever" was sung the king stood in his balcony seat and remained standing throughout the whole chorus. The public bewildered by the king's behavior stood with him and thus was established the tradition to stand and remain standing throughout that whole section. Handel maintained to his dying day that he had been spiritually transported and had seen the Father in his throne. He claims to have written down the musical thoughts as they had come to him, and as fast as he was able to. He later asked God to let him die on Holly Friday (or Easter Sunday, not sure), and he died on that precise day. There is a statue of Handel by his tomb where the composer is holding an open Bible and his finger points to the text "for I know that my redeemer liveth." Gabe Meruelo
George Friderick Handel's "Messiah" is one of the best known and most popular classical compositions of all time, what most people don't know is the story behind it. Handel was at the time in disfavor with the king of England, and his career was in decline. He was in the midst of a deep depression. One night, as he laid on his bed, noticed a manuscript laying on the night table, that had sent to him (I believe by the poet Schiller), based on the life of Christ. He picked it up and began to read it. As he got into the text he began to feel a great deal of energy and inspiration. He sat down and proceeded to write down the musical ideas that came to his mind. The actual text of what he composed shows that he was composing at a precipitous speed. He wrote day and night without ceasing, and hardly sleeping, or even eating. His servant would knock on the door to bring him food, and it would remain there untouched. Some seventeen days or so later he finished his composition and collapsed and slept for a whole day non-stop. The actual finished product is the oratorio we know as "The Messiah." On opening night the King of England was present. When the part that says "King of King, Lord of Lords, He shall reign forever and ever" was sung the king stood in his balcony seat and remained standing throughout the whole chorus. The public bewildered by the king's behavior stood with him and thus was established the tradition to stand and remain standing throughout that whole section. Handel maintained to his dying day that he had been spiritually transported and had seen the Father in his throne. He claims to have written down the musical thoughts as they had come to him, and as fast as he was able to. He later asked God to let him die on Holly Friday (or Easter Sunday, not sure), and he died on that precise day. There is a statue of Handel by his tomb where the composer is holding an open Bible and his finger points to the text "for I know that my redeemer liveth." Gabe Meruelo
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