Skip to main content

What is Judas Maccabaeus by Handel about?

What is Judas Maccabaeus by Handel about?

George Frideric Handel’s 1746 oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus tells the story of Hanukkah. The oratorio, set to a libretto by Thomas Morell, is a three act dramatization of the Maccabean Revolt (167-160 BC), in which a Jewish army rose up against the Seleucid Empire (present day Syria).

Who wrote the oratorio Judas Maccabaeus?

George Frideric HandelJudas Maccabaeus, HWV 63 / ComposerGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Wikipedia

What language is Judas Maccabaeus?

English
Judas Maccabaeus (HWV 63) is an oratorio in three acts composed in 1746 by George Frideric Handel based on a libretto written by Thomas Morell….Judas Maccabaeus (Handel)

Judas Maccabaeus
Text by Thomas Morell
Language English
Based on 1 Maccabees
Performed 1 April 1747: London Royal Opera House

Why is Judas Maccabeus considered a hero?

The son of Mattathias, an aged priest who took to the mountains in rebellion when Antiochus attempted to impose the Greek religion on the Jews, Judas took over the rebel leadership on his father’s death and proved to be a military genius, overthrowing four Seleucid armies in quick succession and restoring the Temple of …

When was Judah Maccabee born?

190 BCJudas Maccabeus / Date of birth

Was Judas Maccabeus a messiah?

While Judas Maccabeus was able to secure complete autonomy from the Seleucid empire, the peace he obtained was only temporary and people soon stopped considering him the messiah because he failed to bring in the “everlasting peace” promised by the messianic oracles.

Who killed Judas Maccabeus?

Chanukah (“Dedication”), as the festival was called, is still celebrated each year for 8 days with the kindling of lights in commemoration of this event. Antiochus died in 163. Judas ventured to attack the Acra citadel. Lysias, who had assumed the regency, counterattacked and defeated Judas at Bet Zecharia (162).

What tribe of Israel were the Maccabees?

The Maccabee brothers were from the tribe of Levi but with theological conceit sat on the throne in Jerusalem. Their usurpation of the monarchy prevented the ascension of a potential messianic king, a Davidic scion from the tribe of Judah. Our ancestors were livid.

Which of Handel’s oratorios tells the tale of the Exodus?

Israel in Egypt
Handel’s “Israel in Egypt” is the composer’s gift to Passover.

What does Maccabi mean?

Maccabi (plural Maccabis) Synonym of Maccabee quotations ▼ A member of a Zionist youth movement established in 1929, promoting physical activity and sports among the Jewish people.

Is Maccabees in the King James Bible?

The Book of Maccabees used to be in the King James Bible and others but was removed. It is now part of the Apocrypha.

Why did the Romans rename Judea as Palestine?

Zachary Foster in his doctoral dissertation wrote that “Most scholars believe the Roman Emperor Hadrian changed the provincial administrative name of Judaea to Palestine to erase the Jewish presence in the land,” opining that “it’s equally likely the name change had little to do with Jew hatred and more to do with …

Why is oratorio Messiah so popular?

Drawing from the Old and New Testaments, Handel designed it in three sweeping sections: Prophecy and Fulfillment, Suffering, and Redemption. Although religious, its message remains universal, and Handel intended it for the concert hall. Its theatricality is another reason for its popularity.

Who was Handel’s Messiah written for?

In 1735 Handel received the text for a new oratorio named Saul from its librettist Charles Jennens, a wealthy landowner with musical and literary interests. Because Handel’s main creative concern was still with opera, he did not write the music for Saul until 1738, in preparation for his 1738–39 theatrical season.

What is Handel’s most famous oratorio?

Messiah
George Frideric Handel, a German-born English composer of the late Baroque era, was known particularly for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. He wrote the most famous of all oratorios, Messiah (1741).

What does Hapoel mean in Hebrew?

the worker
Hapoel (Hebrew: הפועל, lit. the worker) is an Israeli Jewish sports association established in 1926 by the Histadrut Labor Federation.

What is the golden menorah?

According to the Hebrew Bible, the menorah was made out of pure gold, and fresh olive oil was burned daily to light its lamps. Biblical tradition holds that Solomon’s Temple was home to ten menorahs, which were later taken away by the Babylonians. A menorah also stood in the Second Temple.

Why did Handel write Judas Maccabaeus?

Judas Maccabaeus (Handel) Judas Maccabaeus ( HWV 63) is an oratorio in three acts composed in 1746 by George Frideric Handel based on a libretto written by Thomas Morell. The oratorio was devised as a compliment to the victorious Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland upon his return from the Battle of Culloden (16 April 1746).

In the wake of its popularity, probably in 1751, Handel added it to Judas Maccabaeus, and so it forms a legitimate part of both oratorios. The oratorio was published in London after the composer’s death by William Randall, the successor to John Walsh .

What is the meaning of Judas Maccabaeus?

Judas Maccabaeus (Handel) The oratorio was devised as a compliment to the victorious Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland upon his return from the Battle of Culloden (16 April 1746). Other catalogues of Handel’s music have referred to the work as HG xxii; and HHA 1/24.

What is the significance of Handel’s oratorios?

Many of Handel’s oratorios use Old Testament texts and settings which celebrate Jewish history and the triumph of the Jewish people through adversity. Under the Nazis, art that depicted Jews in a positive way was forbidden, but Handel’s oratorios were too highly regarded to be dismissed.