George Handel Trivia

1. Which two characters of the opera have always been sung by basses?

From Quiz Handel: "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"

Answer: Achilla and Curio

Achilla and Curio are the only parts that were originally written for basses. The rest of the male roles were created for castrati (and, in Sesto's case, for a soprano in travesti), and, in modern times, have been sung by mezzos, by sopranos, by countertenors or (especially in the mid-20th century stagings) by basses and baritones.

From Quiz A 'Messiah' Miscellany

Answer: Just over three weeks

The story goes that Handel dashed off his masterpiece in such a short time during the summer of 1741 because he was up to his ears in debt and needed something to sell! What a mundane reason for the creation of one of the most inspirational pieces of music ever written. Tradition also has it that Handel wrote the score in a garden 'temple' (an architectural conceit popular on country estates in the mid-eighteenth century) at Gopsall Hall, Leicestershire, the home of his librettist Charles Jennens. The ruins of the 'temple' have been preserved and can be visited by tourists. The original score of 'Messiah' no longer exists, partly because Handel himself re-arranged the piece every time he conducted it, which was often. Re-arrangements were necessary to accommodate the number of voices and instruments available to him, or even the size of the hall in which the oratorio was to be performed. The version with which we are most familiar today is the Mozart arrangement commissioned in 1789 by Baron Von Swieten.

From Quiz Handel

Answer: February 23 , 1685

Handel was born in Halle, Saxony, in northern Germany. His father, aged 63 when Handel was born, was a local barber-surgeon.

From Quiz Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: 24 days

Written when Handel was 57 (he died at age 74), the composition of "Messiah" was a phenomenal task to complete in 24 days (some texts cite 23 days!). Tradition has it that Handel closeted himself for much of that time, often refusing to eat, drink or sleep when urged to do so by his servants. He believed that God was telling him what to write and he must copy it immediately upon hearing it.

From Quiz Handel: "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"

Answer: Lidia

Cleopatra spends a lot of time dressed up as "Lidia", the queen's lady-in-waiting.

From Quiz A 'Messiah' Miscellany

Answer: Charles Jennens

Jennens (1700-1773) was a wealthy landowner and patron of the arts who collaborated with Handel on five oratorios - 'Messiah', 'Saul', 'Israel in Egypt', L'Allegro,il Pensoroso ed il Moderato', and 'Belshazzar'. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, Jennens was interested in Primitive Christianity and in the life and writings of St. John Chrysostom. Jennens chose all the texts used in 'Messiah'. His scriptural choices tended to support his personal views of kingship (he was a supporter of the Stuart line). The other three choices were also librettists who worked with Handel on other works of his.

From Quiz Handel

Answer: Law

During Law School, Handel began playing the organ at a local church. Handel studied law for one year, then moved to Hamburg and began composing music.

From Quiz Sing-a-Long with Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: "I know that my Redeemer liveth"

Indeed the soprano sings - "...and though worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh shall I see God...." This opens Part III of "Messiah" which treats of the resurrection of all mankind to the glory of God. "How beautiful are the feet" is another great soprano solo. "For behold, darkness shall cover the Earth" is a Recitative for Bass and "Thou shalt break them" is an air for Tenor.

From Quiz Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: Charles Jennens

An English millionaire and amateur literary figure, Jennens selected Old Testament passages from Isaiah, Psalms, and Job for the libretto of "Messiah". New Testament passages were taken from Luke, I Corinthians, and the Book of Revelation. Vivaldi was another Baroque composer, Milton was a Baroque author and Moliere was a Renaissance playwright.

From Quiz Handel: "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"

Answer: In the garden

Cornelia is sent to work in the harem garden. Allegedly, it's until her marriage to Achilla, but in fact Tolomeo wants to keep her for himself.

From Quiz A 'Messiah' Miscellany

Answer: Dublin

'Messiah' had its premiere on April 13, 1742, as one of a series of charity concerts presented at Neal's Music Hall on Fishamble Street in Dublin. The rehearsals for the premiere were a nightmare. Along with a series of production hitches, last minute re-arrangements of the score and other glitches, the Very Rev. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's Anglican Cathedral (and the author of 'Gulliver's Travels') insisted that all proceeds from the performance were to be donated to local hospitals for the mentally ill (so much for Handel's hope for a share of the box office). Handel played the harpsichord for the premiere and the performance was conducted by the Irish composer and violinist Michael Dubourg, a friend of Handel's.

From Quiz Handel

Answer: London

This began a life-long love affair with the city. In 1726, Handel became a naturalized British subject.

From Quiz Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: Promise of eternal life for believers

"Messiah" has over 50 movements. Often certain portions are selected and performed to suit the season of the liturgical year (i.e. Part I is performed at Christmas, Part II at Easter). Although the "Hallelujah Chorus" occurs well into the body of the work, it is often "lifted" from its chronological order and presented at the conclusion of an abbreviated "Messiah" performance.

From Quiz Handel: "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"

Answer: Her hair

Cesare seems extremely fascinated by Cleopatra's hair. "And your hair [binds] hearts", he tells her at their very first meeting. Likewise, during the final scene, he says: "Who has ever seen more beautiful hair?"

From Quiz A 'Messiah' Miscellany

Answer: Albert Hall

The tradition of annual Easter presentations of 'Messiah' at the Royal Albert Hall started in 1878. The tradition of the annual Christmas presentation started in the latter years of the 20th century. While the Albert Hall is a superb venue for Handel's masterwork, my favourite version of 'Messiah' dates from 1976, and it was recorded at Covent Garden with Sir Neville Marriner conducting. The recording features soprano Elly Ameling, mezzosoprano Anna Reynolds, tenor Philip Langridge and bass Gwynne Howell, with the Academy and Chorus of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. I strongly recommend it.

From Quiz Handel

Answer: Xerxes

Handel's opera "Xerxes", or "Serse", was first produced in 1738. The opera is named for Xerxes I, king of Persia, though the libretto has very little to do with his life. The first aria of the opera has been orchestrated and is sometimes performed as "Handel's Largo".

From Quiz Sing-a-Long with Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: born

Again, Handel has used a long vocal run on "born" and each section of the choir has to master it. Very effective towards the end when the sopranos and altos as well as the orchestra harmonize the run together.

From Quiz Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: He felt that he did not deserve it

Handel maintained that God, not Handel, wrote "Messiah". He saw himself as a mere vehicle for communication who simply wrote down what God dictated. While writing the "Hallelujah Chorus", Handel referred to the "divine host" who sang the music that he recorded on paper. Many arrangements of "Messiah" have been created through the years. One of the most famous arrangers was Mozart.

From Quiz Handel: "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"

Answer: Hercules

"Long live, long live our Alcide!" sings the chorus. Alcides is one of the alternative Greek names for Hercules.

From Quiz A 'Messiah' Miscellany

Answer: The Book of Common Prayer and the King James Version of the Bible

'Messiah' is an oratorio in three parts, and each part can be performed as a stand-alone piece. Technically, the portions of the work drawn from the Psalms are taken from the Great Bible, but since the Psalms in the Book of Common Prayer are also from the Great Bible (as are all the prescribed readings) the question is moot. The rest of the libretto is taken from the King James version of the Bible. The oratorio's three parts deal with the Annunciation and Nativity (most of which is based on the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah), the Passion (which covers the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Christ), and the Aftermath (most of which is based on the Revelation to John).

From Quiz Handel

Answer: Blindness

His blindness was caused by a unsuccessful operation on his cataracts. Handel continued to compose music in spite of this handicap.

From Quiz Sing-a-Long with Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: The Pastoral Symphony

The gentleness of the Pastoral Symphony following the jubilation of "For unto us a Child is born" brings us quietly into the stable and the birth of Jesus.

From Quiz Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: chorus

Handel was a prolific composer of Baroque opera and oratorio. He owned and operated his own opera company for many years. Bach composed in all major Baroque styles except opera. There are no actors in oratorios and cambiata is a male adolescent singing voice/range. Both Handel and Bach were brilliant orchestrators.

From Quiz Handel: "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"

Answer: Curio

In an often-cut scene, Curio offers to marry Cornelia right after her husband's severed head is brought onstage. Naturally, Cornelia is shocked and refuses him. The next one in line is Achilla, and then comes Tolomeo. Cesare has no romantic interest in Cornelia.

From Quiz Handel

Answer: King George l

King George I ruled from 1714-1727 A.D. Handel was King George's favorite composer. During its debut, an orchestra was put on a barge floating beside the King's vessel on the Thames river. King George liked the "Water Music" so much that he had it played three times that day.

From Quiz Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: word painting

Word painting, so characteristic of Renaissance and Baroque music, enhances the text with musical treatment. In the tenor aria, "Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted", a single syllable of the word "exalted" (raised up) is written with forty-six ascending notes! Crescendos/decrescendos, easily sung melodies and sonata-allegro form all belong to a description of Classical Period music, not Baroque.

From Quiz Handel: "Giulio Cesare in Egitto"

Answer: Sesto, swearing vengeance for his father

After Cornelia breaks down in tears, feeling her life is meaningless without Pompey, Sesto composes himself and firmly says that lamenting doesn't achieve anything and he will be planning vengeance. Then the aria follows.

From Quiz A 'Messiah' Miscellany

Answer: They were asked not to wear their swords

I'm sure that the request for gentlemen to leave their swords at the door was a purely precautionary move rather than an expectation that a fight might break out. Still, duels were not uncommon during the eighteenth century, so perhaps the management was circumventing the possibility of a challenge! Or maybe they didn't want people tripping over swords in a crowded concert hall.

From Quiz Handel

Answer: Oratorio

An oratorio is a musical composition for solo voices, choir, and orchestra that tells a sacred story. There are no costumes, scenery, or dramatic action. After a series of failed operas, Handel turned to this form of composition. Among his most famous oratorios are: "Solomon", "Judas Maccabaeus", "Belshazzar", and his most famous, "Messiah"

From Quiz Handel's "Messiah"

Answer: plot or characters

It is atypical of Handel's oratorios to have no plot or characters. However, oratorios by definition have no scenery, costumes or drama. Most of Handel's oratorios are based on stories from the Old Testament. Although Jennens extracted the text from the Bible, it is reflective rather than dramatic. Interestingly, oratorios were not considered church music. They were intended for performance in public theaters for paying audiences.

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