George Frederic Handel - Overture to "The Messiah"

[richardus1985]

Thank God the world if full of three things:

Air - for us to breath

Artists - to inspire us

Arseholes - those who think they're artists but are full of air.

Peace! :-)

[MadPyrotechnicus]

After listening to this, I can die in peace...

[93celliz]

One of youtube's most entertaining features is the comments section on videos featuring baroque music. It would seem that every person is an expert on stylistic baroque playing!

To me, this is an interesting take on the work. I can appreciate it is slower than other versions, but surely the LPO went through some sort of deliberate decision making process to choose this tempo - not simply saying 'it's too hard to play fast, we'll slow it down'

Calm down, respect artistic decisions & enjoy music

[yoursdiana1]

it could be a tiny bit faster not to fast though cause then it takes the beauti from the music

[Luverxmusicx]

i was about ten when i played this with my orchestra in downtown chicago

[yoursdiana1]

@Luverxmusicx me too Orchestra Hall right

[WiltedMoose]

You should know that the work is called "Messiah."

Not 'The Messiah'

[insidejokeful]

@raulox  Now 18

[byranntherockstar1]

Handel is quite the composer, especially since he was a composer who absorbed the international currents of his day, such as the German counterpoint, Italian opera, and French overtures such as this one. Gotta love Handel! :)

[raulox71]

17 have no heart and feelings.

[albermarle52]

I've heard your "correct" versions and they sound comical. This is how Handel would've wanted it had they had modern strings back then.

[paradoxicus]

Creo que en el barroco,huelga hablar de "tempo",mejor considerar la armonía,la instrumentacion e incluso "il vibratto".Además,¿ Quién mejor para interpretar El Mesías que The London Philarmonic Orchestra?.

Händel,(Haendel),es de alguna forma británico,aunque su música sea universal.

[sumitvids]

gives me goosebumps everytime

[sumitvids]

gives me goosebubmps everytime

[PTR131]

Epic.

[eckid1]

this tempo is way too slow

[probrojeffro]

Love Handel. Love the Baroque period. Love the Messiah. 'nuff said. Peace!

[dschonnie]

Game over... the times when Handel was performed THIS way is LONG way back...

[Arniceous]

Grave - dignified, important; obsolete, .Low in pitch, tone 17th Century - From French grave, from Latin gravis (“heavy, important”). William Bolt had it right!! Marsbreakfast !

[Arniceous]

This is the correct timing in my opinion; as Händel would have have wanted it performed. An opening to this particualr Oratorio should be somewhat dramatic. The favored 2/2 time with the accompanied pizzicato was not even recognized as a rule of writing during this period, plus this type of dramatic interpretation allows for something larger to unfold...

[marsbreakfast]

This is Bolt, isn't it?

[TempusFuckit]

Very odd interpretation. I would hate to have to play it this slow... talk about boring.

[Sorcelette]

No no no no no no no no no !!!!!!!

[MrPizzadelivery]

I wish this performance was overdotted

[jazzizrom2]

playin this at my middle school concert

[gundyice]

Music is meant to be interpreted. It's up to the conductor to conduct it how they wish. I personally love this recording.

[SuperheroChuck]

Why does this conductor not know anything about overdotting the rhythms?

[gloria19995]

@SuperheroChuck Overdotting? I have no clue what that is unless of course youre youre talking about DOUBLEdotting. That, someone might know.

[gloria19995]

@SuperheroChuck Overdotting? I have no clue what that is unless of course youre youre talking about DOUBLEdotting. That, someone might know. And its the conductor of the LONDON PHILHAROMONIC. I think there is free reign to do what ever pleases him.

[SuperheroChuck]

@gloria19995 A music history lesson: "overdotting" means playing the notes as double-dotted even though they're written as single-dotted. The Messiah overture is a French overture, and French overtures are ALWAYS overdotted. As in, that's the way they're supposed to be performed. As in, Handel INTENDED for the overture to be performed that way, but didn't bother to write it that way because (1) it takes more work and (2) they knew that it was going to be performed that way anyway.

[BachScholar]

@SuperheroChuck I beg to differ. French overtures sound terrible when overdotted and it has never been proven that performers in the Baroque even did it.

[demianmaciel8]

el arreglo de mozart no tiene desperdicio!

[SiEVlla521]

playing this song for orchestra :) Check it out <------- (high school with band and chorus)

[SiEVlla521]

playing this song for orchestra :) Check it out <-------

[violyngirl1]

we are performing this in my high school orchestra. the whole opera!

[senoritasaldana]

@violyngirl1 How cool what High School. I would have liked attended a school like yours. :}

[acdaced]

all of you need to stop arguing about this

I've heard it "normal speed", and I've heard it played slower like this

both sides have their merits

I personally like when it is slower like this, but unlike the rest of you, I'm not going to trash anyone who thinks otherwise

[mathiasmas]

this is crap!!!!

[mjleach95]

@mathiasmas the only way you could have possibly come to this page is if you were previously listening to classical music or know the song, which brings up the question, that if this is crap, then why would you be on this page?

[mathiasmas]

@mjleach95 too slow

[Jackson45062]

Our orchestra is playing this piece so i wanted to hear it. pretty cool.

[wtoutback]

The tempo is grand and unhurried. I think this is one on of Handel's finest moments as a composer. I like the simple straight forward approach without the affected obsession of original instruments and 'composers intentions'. It is the overture of a grand and wonderful work, why make it a museum piece? Handel would have loved this approach and this rendering. W.Taylor

[momo4895]

the rhythm in the beginning is waayyyy to slow.

[patsythesquire]

They're playing the rhythm totally wrong. This is Baroque 101 stuff here.

[stiletto929]

@patsythesquire the rhythm was interpreted as double-dotted =)

[wtoutback]

In an age when tempo cannot be too fast and hasty, it is so nice to hear once again an unhurried beautiful overature like this, one of Handel's greatest single works.  W.taylor

[wtoutback]

A beautiful and dignified rendering of a noble work beginning a grand work. Who could argue the simple grandeur of this stunningly beautiful overture. w.taylor

[eckid1]

the tempo is far too slow

[bigjon9934]

oh happy day

[aYankee102587]

This is well played, but a bit slow and soft compared to what I have on my cd.

[MST3Kfanatic]

hey chucknorris, way to get your republikluxklan history set in stone! GFHandel 1685-1753; third reich 1933ish-1945...oh well, cheney (the dick) will sort it out somehow

[poetryxpianox95]

Cool. I'm playing this in orchestra now. :) We're taking the intro a bit slower, but I guess different conductors can have different opinions. This was pretty good otherwise.

[xheartwithaslash]

were playing this in our orchestra :)

[MICHONSON]

Only Germans could ever conceive and create this kind of music.

[vanya2309]

The English should play Handel as well as Germans because Handel is English composer too. I think, the conductor of London Philarmonic Orchestra must know more about Handel and style of his music and his style

[ChuckNorris55555]

Thats right

He left Germany in the time of Hitler

[ChuckNorris55555]

Sry i were wrong

He was a German Britsh

[enderofworlds89]

i hate how i cant find the concert band arrangement of this on youtube.

I love playing this song so much fun beautiful.

[HARMONICO101]

Waaaaayyy tooooo slooooooow!!!!!!!

This is a French Overture! It must be grand! It must be Majestic! It must be Regal! It must be Light! It must be Dance-like!

[captaincabeman]

yes. because you know more than the London Philharmonic.

[HARMONICO101]

When it comes to historically informed performance, you bet your ass.

This was recorded when HIP was still being developed. Today, we know alot more about performing this style of music. Believe me, I am sure that the London Philharmonic didn't know very much about Baroque music of the French style, which this overture is in.

[MICHONSON]

Isn't it instead that we have been used to listening to music too fast??

To me this is just right: a piece of music in which you can truly hear each and every note as it should be. I believe this is how Haendel conceived it.

Music takes its time.

Listen to it again and thell me what you think

Greetings.

[HARMONICO101]

No. The fact of the matter is that the French overture is a fanfare, not a funeral dirge. At this tempo, the piece has no pulse at all, which is inconcievable for music in the French baroque style (and unlikely for the Italian style), as it is all based upon dance.

[malma1]

... and yet in its own way it is beautiful

[HARMONICO101]

Tempi in the Baroque era for slower movements were faster than today because the baroque bow has difficulty with holding long notes. You can't even hear the dotted rythm clearly! Plus, you would never ever start a Baroque opera or oratorio with a "largo molto" tempo.

Clearly, nobody here knows much about music of this period.

Beecham and his orchestra perform this in a post-nineteenth century style, without any real knowledge of the aesthetic of the period.

[jonorulz]

@HARMONICO101 Though this performance of the Messiah (not only the Overture, but, indeed, the entire oratorio) is generally quite poor, as far as the understanding of early music aesthetics is concerned, we must give the credit that is deserved - we know that nowhere near as much about this music was known at the time at which this recording was made, with comparison to what is known now. Far better to hear this work in this form, than not to hear it at all.

[jonorulz]

I'm am not convinced that anyone has never, due to ignorance or naivety, been attached to a recording that was made by a poorly informed performer/interpreter. This recordng is good for its time. It also seems rather vain to make such a big deal of such things as tempi, so as to prove that one has overlooked more immediately obvious interpretational errors - wrong use of vibrato, etc. ... The interpretation may be excused because of the stylistic ignorance of the time.

[demigod1010]

@HARMONICO101

Okay, you need to stop being flamboyant with your opinions and showing off your knowledge. It's not productive. As a Curtis Composition and theory graduate, I can say that you most likely have no knowledge of this type of music.

I can't help but agree with what you are saying (although I do feel that we should take advantage of the bows we have), but you can't go around Heralding your opinions as facts.

[icampbell921]

@HARMONICO101 I agree, but it is possible that this conductor wanted to take a different approach to the piece to give it an obviously different feel. Nothing against your comment, just saying.

[klarinetta]

@HARMONICO101 This is very interesting for someone being a clarinetist like myself that knows nothing about string playing or even much about how to play Baroque music at all.

[ckmiller66]

@HARMONICO101 That is so interesting. I would love to learn more about the subject. I played violin from grade 5 to 12, then sang in the college choir for four years. I've been singing choral music since grade 6, and now sing with a wonderful volunteer adult group in Jacksonville, FL, the Don Thompson Chorale. "How can I keep from singing"?

[ckmiller66]

@HARMONICO101 That is so interesting. I would love to learn more about the subject. I played violin from grade 5 to 12, then sang in the college choir for four years. I've been singing choral music since grade 6, and now sing with a wonderful volunteer adult group in Jacksonville, FL, the Don Thompson Chorale. "How can I keep from singing"? At age 68, I hope to keep doing it for many years to come!

[Thecalyboi]

@HARMONICO101 well aren't you speeeecial

[nakedBison69]

HARMONICO101 knows nothing about anything

[dan144556]

Faaaaaaaaar too slow...it seems so heavy-handed! The fugal part of this piece should be lighter...I agree that some conductors rush it too much, but this is just overdoing it in the other direction.

[Ultima1321]

This is a really good arrangement, I could stand it to be just a teensy bit faster, but it's fine as it is. :) Good work.

[gugenheim84]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this is the Sir Thomas Beecham version who made a life study of Handel and insisted this was the correct and only tempo.

[HARMONICO101]

If so, then the man was an idiot and should have read Paul Henry Lang.

[lrbaseball15]

I was able to catch a fifteen minute nap listening to this arrangement.

[paradoxicus]

¡Grandiosa Obertura a un grandioso oratorio.!El Mesías es una obra maestra de todos los tiempos.Atemporal y Grandiosa.

[bluefete77]

Great work. When are you going to post part2?

[jeffreyclaudekevin]

salute to handel.

[seaweed2007]

Finally...a conductor who "gets it"! ;)) Thanks so much for uploading this! I've heard too many bad versions tonight and this was such a relief!

[TheBlomberFactory]

yeah i agree. Its hard to find good versions of classical songs on youtube but this one is great

[seaweed2007]

I agree. I'm no critic but this has always been a personal favorite and this version is paced very well. It seems most conductors rush through it like they're trying to cut down on their concert time or something. After being jostled that way, I NEED to hear "Comfort Ye". ;))

This piece sets the tone. These notes were written to be felt in the gut. When it's played at 90mph, all one feels is the bumpy road. :(

[yooperlooper]

This is nice - I enjoy the slower version. It sort of sweeps you away.

[paradoxicus]

Una excelente obertura para un Oratorio sobrenatural.

[dorkestranerd]

I want this sheet music! anyone know where to find it??

[PrayingforUSA]

Walter Susskind is the conductor.

[jtew85]

absolutely beautiful music!

[GreatLakesGoddess]

beautiful music...always to be cherished

[billyguns2]

Please tell us who is conducting this noble performance!

[Op139]

Walter Susskind

[wyliesnyder]

Adding as favorite.