Handel's Oratorios

[Robert Wiener <wiener...>]

"And "Judas Maccabeus" goes even one step further by NOT being of O.T. 
provenance, and hence lacking even that relevance for Christians."  Fred

I understand why you might think that but, in fact, the first and second books 
of the "Machabees" are part of the canon of the Old Testament for Catholics 
(see Catholic Encycopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09495a.htm )  
therefore having even greater relevance for Christians than for Jews for whom 
they are not part of the canon of the Tanakh.

Moreover, although most of Handel's oratorios are based on stories from the 
Tanakh, I do not believe that the "vast majority" of them are.  (A quick count 
-- I may be off by one or even two -- gives me 11 of 20.) 
http://www.ptloma.edu/music/MUH/baroque/handel_oratorios/handel_oratorios.htm  
(A few other of the oratorios are apocryphal.)

Bob


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Fred Blumenthal 
To: World music from a Jewish slant
Sent: 12/15/2003 10:55:01 AM 
Subject: Chanukah concert Insane Lewis



For most of its 33 years of existence the St. Louis Circle of Jewish Music has 
sponsored an annual Chanukah choral festival.  This year we begin a new 
tradition in collaboration with the suburban University City Symphony Orchestra 
- a "Judas Maccabeus" sing-along.  Taking place (this year) at United Hebrew 
Congregation on December 20th, the combined choirs of most of the city's Jewish 
congregations will collaborate with the Orchestra, directed by Dr. Leon Burke, 
III, with solos sung by members of the Circle.  Audience members may purchase a 
score for $18 which serves as a ticket for this and all future years, and then 
may sing along with the on-bima choir. 

In researching the program notes I've become further surprised at the story of 
Handel's writing such a Jewish oratorio.  "Messiah" notwithstanding, the vast 
majority of Handel's oratorios are on subjects from Tanach - "Old Testament" to 
him - "Deborah," "Israel in Egypt," "Joseph and His Brethren," etc.  And "Judas 
Maccabeus" goes even one step further by NOT being of O.T. provenance, and 
hence lacking even that relevance for Christians.  Apparently there was a 
political metaphor - a recently suppressed revolution.  But I prefer the 
apocryphal story that Handel was advised to compose for royalty and the 
aristocracy, but wanted to see seats filled in the theater, and so wrote for 
the Jews. 

Fred Blumenthal
xd2fabl (at) us(dot)ibm(dot)com