Handel's oratorio Jephtha was a stop-start affair, taking him six months to complete the score while he was in pain and losing his eyesight.
Composition History
During the composition of Jephtha, Handel wrote on the score in German, "unable to continue because the sight of my left eye is so weakened," while setting the words "all hid from mortal sight."
Compositional Technique
Handel's score for Jephtha features formal innovation, including a quartet (exceptional in his output), and a central section with one of his most original compositional spans.
Historical Context
The biblical story of Jephtha, involving a father's vow to sacrifice his daughter, was a controversial topic in Handel's time, used by freethinkers to challenge the Bible's validity.
Composer Biography
Handel, the composer, put more notes on paper than any other composer before or since.
Historical Context
In Handel's time, British people identified with the ancient Israelites, claiming to be God's chosen people, and the Bible was central to British political life.
Performer Biography
Harry Christophers, the conductor, is the founder of The Sixteen, an internationally recognized ensemble known for early English polyphony and Baroque music.
