How many times have we all enjoyed George Frideric Handel’s Oratory, The Messiah and wondered if he had written it incorrectly? I would venture a guess that I may be the only one on the planet. The reason I have even pondered this possibility stems from my preparation for a solo this week at a church. Sunday is Easter Sunday and I decided to perform the aria “Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion”. After searching the internet for a suitable copy, I finally found what I was after and began practicing my part. After three attempts to get the feel of the number, I realized that it was written incorrectly. Each time I played through the solo, I came to the same conclusion- the music is written incorrectly!
As you can see from my printed page, my edited version fits more comfortably with the text than the original. How could this have happened and why hasn’t anyone realized it before now? My first thought was that I had downloaded music which contained the error but after subsequent searches, I found that each copy was the same. In my corrected version, the emphasis on the melody falls at the natural spots and in the original they are off by two beats. After finding this to be true in all of my copies, I decided to ask several of my friends who were more knowledgeable on the subject than I. After contacting these people I found that many did not share my concern and only one was able to give me the answer I was after. No one had a problem with this discrepancy but me.
Because of my determination to perform my solo as easily as I could, I set down at my computer to rewrite my solo part. After the better part of an hour, I finally had what I needed, my corrected version of the aria. Whether you agree with my conclusion as to the correct or incorrect version of this piece is not important. More important would be which version is easier to perform and for that reason I have included my “improved version” for your use. With the changes I have made, you should find it much easier to perform.
If you have strong views on this subject, please write me for it would be very strange that I would be the only person uncomfortable with an important section of the Messiah after all these years.
Download revised solo- Rejoice Solo -revised
I hear exactly the same thing that you do – i.e. where the beats seem to be placed (accent-wise) not lining up with the sheet music.
I noticed the EXACT same thing in the overture for the Music for the Royal Fireworks. Check out the original manuscript at this link: http://imslp.org/wiki/File:Music_for_the_Royal_Fireworks,_HWV_351,_TN-Overture,_CompManusript.jpg
and then check out a recording like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j9ewOW-bkA
It is obvious that the composer meant this (it’s handwritten). Maybe it’s just a baroque thing? A Handel thing? It’s the same exact thing you are hearing – life would be much better if everything were shifted by two beats.
Well, you said to contact you if I had strong views – and I do! I am in favor of things that are easier to perform, and the downbeat being where it’s supposed to be does just that. I realize we lose some historical authenticity, but that’s why we have scans like the one I linked to. I would edit this music to line up with what we are both hearing, and provide an asterisked note to deal with the historical/theoretical sticklers. Those same people who insist on writing C-flat in flat keys instead of b-natural, causing me to splank the note as my brain processes what it’s supposed to do.
So, no, Bruce, you’re not crazy. You sound like my kind of guy. Drop me a line sometime!
Dear Doug,
Thanks for the URLs and the comparison of manuscript to a recording. Your reference as to authenticity is very interesting. When working with Midi files, misplaced beats come up all the time but when it is on an original manuscript, you can’t argue the intent. Very good point! I will contact some of my more knowledgeable friends and share your views.
I am in favor of things that are easier to perform also. When I finish marking my music for a show, you can hardly see the notes on the page. It must be my lack of confidence. I will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this topic.
Hey Bruce,
I do a lot of musical work between languages. Handel was notorious for screwing up vocal music. He was German who had learned to compose in the Italian manner (following the Italian language). He constantly put unstressed English syllables on stressed musical beats. You can’t read his original work, you need an edition of it with the word position corrected (I think Mozart took a stab at doing this).
The important thing here is to understand that his original version of this was first written in jig time-9/8. Cultural prejudice made him change it (Gaelic music is always in compound time. Your best bet is to find it in 9/8 time and do it that way-it’s much better than his hacked-up 4/4 version.
You are way beyond me in this area and I do appreciate your information. I am very pleased that you took the time to reed my material for as we all know I am a very simple trumpet player but what you have stated tells the story. I appreciate your input and please stop back again. Who knows, I might come up with something interesting again, some day.
The very best to you and yours,
BC