<Tr> <Th> Instrumental </Th> <Td> <Ul> <Li> 2 trumpets </Li> <Li> timpani </Li> <Li> 2 oboes </Li> <Li> 2 violins </Li> <Li> viola </Li> <Li> basso continuo </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> 2 trumpets </Li> <Li> timpani </Li> <Li> 2 oboes </Li> <Li> 2 violins </Li> <Li> viola </Li> <Li> basso continuo </Li> </Ul> <P> Messiah (HWV 56) is an English - language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer . It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later . After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best - known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music . </P> <P> Handel's reputation in England, where he had lived since 1712, had been established through his compositions of Italian opera . He turned to English oratorio in the 1730s in response to changes in public taste; Messiah was his sixth work in this genre . Although its structure resembles that of opera, it is not in dramatic form; there are no impersonations of characters and no direct speech . Instead, Jennens's text is an extended reflection on Jesus as the Messiah called Christ . The text begins in Part I with prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to the annunciation to the shepherds, the only "scene" taken from the Gospels . In Part II, Handel concentrates on the Passion and ends with the "Hallelujah" chorus . In Part III he covers the resurrection of the dead and Christ's glorification in heaven . </P>

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