Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759) was a German,
later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of
his career in London, becoming well known for his
operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel
received important training in Halle and worked as a
composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London
in 1712; he became a naturalised British subject in
1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great
composers of the Italian Baroque and by the
middle-German polyphonic choral ...(+)
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 - 1759) was a German,
later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of
his career in London, becoming well known for his
operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel
received important training in Halle and worked as a
composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London
in 1712; he became a naturalised British subject in
1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great
composers of the Italian Baroque and by the
middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.
Judas Maccabaeus (HWV 63) is an oratorio in three acts
composed in 1746 by George Frideric Handel based on a
libretto written by Thomas Morell. Morell's libretto is
based on the deuterocanonical (or apocryphal) book 1
Maccabees (2–8), with motives added from the Jewish
Antiquities by Josephus. The oratorio was devised as a
compliment to the victorious Prince William Augustus,
Duke of Cumberland upon his return from the Battle of
Culloden (16 April, 1746). Other catalogues of Handel's
music have referred to the work as HG xxii; and HHA
1/24.
The events depicted in the oratorio are from the period
170–160 BC when Judea was ruled by the Seleucid
Empire which undertook to destroy the Jewish religion.
Being ordered to worship Zeus, many Jews obeyed under
the threat of persecution; however, some did not. One
who defied was the elderly priest Mattathias who killed
a fellow Jew who was about to offer a pagan sacrifice.
After tearing down a pagan altar, Mattathias retreated
to the hills and gathered others who were willing to
fight for their faith.
In Part 1, the people mourn the death of their leader
Mattathias, but his son Simon tries to restore their
faith and calls them to arms (Arm, arm, ye brave).
Simon's brother, Judas Maccabaeus, assumes the role of
leader and inspires the people with thoughts of liberty
and victory through the power of Jehovah.
In Part 2, the people have been victorious, but Judas
is concerned that vanity will cause the people to claim
victory for themselves. When news arrives that the
Seleucid commander Gorgias is preparing to enact
revenge, the people's joyous mood gives way to wailing
and dejection (Ah! wretched Israel!). Again Judas
rallies the people (Sound an alarm) and insists that
the pagan altars must be destroyed and that false
religions must be resisted.
In Part 3, victory has finally been achieved for the
Jewish people (See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes!). News
arrives that Rome is willing to form an alliance with
Judas against the Seleucid empire. The people rejoice
that peace has at last come to their country (O lovely
peace).
Handel's music depicts the changing moods of the Jewish
people as their fortunes vary from dejection to
jubilation. NOTE: Under the Nazis the work was subject
to "aryanization", a new text being provided so that
Handel's music could be performed without reference to
Jewish culture.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Maccabaeus_(Handel
)).
Although originally created for Baroque Orchestra, I
created this Arrangement of "O never, we never will bow
down" (31-"O never bow we down" & 32-"We never will bow
down") from "Judas Maccabaeus" (HWV 63 Mvts. 31 & 32)
for Winds (Flute, Oboe, French Horn & Bassoon) &
Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
