Israel in Egypt

Israel in Egypt
source
Composer	George Frideric Handel
Type	Oratorio
Language	English
Based on	Book of Exodus
Composed	1738–1739
Premiere date	4 April 1739
Premiere location	King's Theatre, London
Premiere conductor	George Frideric Handel

Israel in Egypt. It is a oratorio composed by George Frideric Handel between 1738 and 1739. The work, with a text compiled from the Book of Exodus and the Book of Psalms, dramatically recounts the story of the Plagues of Egypt and the Exodus of the Israelites. Premiering at the King's Theatre, Haymarket in London, it is renowned for its extensive use of double chorus and vivid musical depictions of biblical events.

Composition and publication

Following a difficult season for his Italian opera company, Handel turned to the English oratorio form in the late 1730s. He began composing the work in the autumn of 1738, shortly after completing ''Saul'', and completed it on 1 November 1739. The libretto, assembled by Charles Jennens or possibly Newburgh Hamilton, draws almost exclusively from the King James Bible. The first version of the piece included the funeral anthem The Ways of Zion Do Mourn as a first part, but this was soon replaced. The score was published by John Walsh in parts in 1739 and in full score around 1760.

Structure and text

The oratorio is structured in three parts, though its original two-part form is often performed. Part One depicts the Lamentation of the Israelites for the Death of Joseph and the subsequent oppression under a new Pharaoh. Part Two, the most famous section, details the Ten Plagues, including Hail, Darkness, and the Death of the Firstborn, culminating in the Israelites' deliverance at the Red Sea. Part Three is a Song of Moses, a triumphant hymn of praise derived from Exodus 15. The text is a direct compilation of scriptural passages with minimal alteration, creating a powerful, narrative-driven libretto.

Musical style and analysis

The work is a landmark in choral writing, dominated by grandiose fugal choruses and intricate counterpoint. Handel employs a vast array of musical techniques for word-painting: rushing scales for frogs, descending lines for hailstones, and eerie harmonies for the darkness. The chorus "He gave them hailstones" combines orchestral violence with vocal fury. The celebrated "Egypt was glad when they departed" uses a double chorus to contrast the rejoicing Israelites with the fearful Egyptians. Instrumental depictions are also key, such as the buzzing strings in "He spake the word" for the plague of flies.

Performance history

The premiere on 4 April 1739 at the King's Theatre, Haymarket was poorly received, leading Handel to revise the work extensively for subsequent performances that season at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The heavy reliance on choruses and lack of solo arias was unusual for London audiences. The oratorio fell into obscurity after Handel's death but was revived in the 19th century, notably by the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston and at the Three Choirs Festival. Landmark modern performances include those by the Monteverdi Choir under John Eliot Gardiner and recordings by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Academy of Ancient Music.

Critical reception and legacy

Initial reception in London was cool, with one critic noting it was "too solemn for common ears." However, its reputation grew over centuries, with Felix Mendelssohn praising its choral mastery. It is now considered one of Handel's greatest and most original choral works, profoundly influencing later composers like Franz Joseph Haydn in The Creation and Hector Berlioz. Its dramatic choruses, such as "The people shall hear" and "I will sing unto the Lord", remain staples of the choral repertoire. The work stands as a monumental achievement in the depiction of narrative through concerted choral and orchestral forces.

Category:Oratorios by George Frideric Handel Category:1739 compositions Category:English-language oratorios Category:Compositions based on the Book of Exodus