Ideas Revealing facts about the Christmas song meant for Easter
Dec 24, 2025
Join Ivars Taurins, the esteemed founder of Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, and Robert Harris, veteran CBC Radio broadcaster, as they delve into the unexpected origins of Handel's Messiah. Discover why this iconic Christmas staple was originally intended for Easter celebrations. They explore the Hallelujah Chorus's stunning structure, the reasons behind its enduring popularity, and how Handel cleverly borrowed from various musical traditions. Uncover the hidden meanings in the text and the fascinating historical context that shaped this masterpiece.
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Messiah Was Written For Easter
- Handel's Hallelujah Chorus is famous as Christmas music but Messiah was written for Easter and leans heavily on Old Testament texts.
- The oratorio's original context and themes differ from the modern seasonal ritual Robert Harris and Ivars Taurins describe.
Messiah Is Not A Fixed Work
- Handel constantly revised Messiah to fit singers and audiences, producing multiple useful variants of arias.
- There is no single fixed Messiah; performance practice historically embraced adaptation and change.
Notes Are Shorthand For A Performance Language
- The written notes are a shorthand that require knowledge of period style to interpret correctly.
- Different conductors like Malcolm Sargent and Ivars Taurins can produce radically different Messiahs from the same score.