In all the lands where classical music developed there was one hard-and-fast rule that shaped the performing arts calendar: Absolutely No theater during Lent, the 40-day penitential season prior to Easter.
What was a musician to do, with the opera houses (and the most profitable employment) shut down for more than a month? The answer, during the 18th century, was simple: Play instrumental concerts at patron’s homes and inexpensively-rented concert halls. Mozart, for example, wrote 14 of his Vienna piano concertos for the Lent seasons from 1783-1786.
Another possibility was the oratorio, a staple of the Lenten season. Handel’s Messiah, as the musicologically correct among us never cease to point out, places its emphasis on Easter, since it was designed to be performed in that season, as were all of Handel’s oratorios. So here’s a playlist of concerto movements and Handel oratorio choruses in that 18th-century tradition.
1. Larghetto e staccato (mvt. 1) from Organ Concerto in G Minor, Op. 4 No. 1 (Handel); Simon Lindley with Handel Festival Chamber Orchestra, Johann Aratore, conductor.
We begin with a stately movement from an organ concerto as our overture. Handel played these at concerts, often together with his oratorios.
2, 3. “And Israel Saw the Great Work and Believed the Lord”, from Israel in Egypt.
Handel’s great telling of the Exodus story that is the basis of Passover, includes this sober reflection on the plagues and destruction wrought on Egypt to free the Jews in slavery there.
4. Adagio-Allegro, from Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6 No. 4 (Arcangelo Corelli), I Musici di Zagreb.
Corelli’s concerto grosso (for small group combined with a larger group) opens things up with a little virtuoso violin playing.
5. “All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray,” from Messiah.
This chorus comes from the part of Messiah that tells the Passion story (the events leading to Jesus’ death by crucifixtion). When the chorus gets to “astray”, the music wanders astray with them.
6. Allegro (mvt. 1) from Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 3 No.1 (Pietro Locatelli) Jaap van Zweden with Combattimento Consort Amsterdam.
Locatelli was a great violinist as you can tell from the high-lying solo line in this concerto movement.
7. “From the East Unto the West” from Solomon Gabrieli Consort and Players, Paul McCreesh, cond.
Wrapping things up in the great oratorio Solomon, is a hymn of praise to the king’s wisdom, with a particularly dancing accompaniment.
8. Allegro (mvt. 4) from Organ Concerto in F Major, Op. 4 No. 4 (Handel).
A spirited intro leading to the obvious concluding piece:
9. “Hallelujah”, from Messiah, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor.
Most famous classical music piece ever? It’s up there, and it deserves to be.