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Famous Music from the Baroque Period
Part 3 (c. 1600–1750)
Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah
by G.F. Handel (1685–1759)
Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel. The text was compiled by Charles Jennens, an English literary scholar and devout Anglican who selected and arranged biblical passages from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter. It was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and premiered in London a year later.
Handel, already well known in England for his Italian operas, turned to English oratorio as public taste changed. Messiah was his sixth work in this genre. Although its structure resembles opera, it is not dramatic and contains no characters or dialogue. Instead, the text presents a reflection on Jesus as the Messiah.
The oratorio is divided into three parts.
Part I focuses on Old Testament prophecies and the birth of Christ.
Part II centers on the Passion and concludes with the famous “Hallelujah” chorus.
Part III reflects on the resurrection and Christ’s glorification in heaven.
Handel originally wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces, with alternative settings for some numbers. After his death, the work was often performed on a much larger scale, with enormous orchestras and choirs numbering up to 800 performers.
Today, Messiah remains one of Handel’s greatest achievements and a cornerstone of the choral repertoire.
String Quartets in D MAJOR Op.64
by Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Joseph Haydn’s String Quartets, Op. 64 is a set of six string quartets composed in 1790. Together with the earlier quartets published as Op. 54 and Op. 55, they are known as the “Tost” quartets, named after the Hungarian violinist and later merchant Johann Tost, who helped Haydn secure a publisher for the works.
Unlike the earlier sets, Haydn formally dedicated Op. 64 to Tost in gratitude for his support. These quartets reflect Haydn’s mature style, combining structural clarity, expressive depth, and lively dialogue among the four instruments.
Op. 64 includes some of Haydn’s most admired chamber music, particularly the fifth quartet in D major, often nicknamed “The Lark” for its soaring violin melody. Today, the set remains a cornerstone of the string quartet repertoire and a testament to Haydn’s mastery of the genre.
Concerto for Oboe and Strings No. 2
by Tomaso Albinoni (1671–1751)
Concerto for Oboe and S.trings No. 2 in D minor, Op 9 is one of the most celebrated works by the Venetian composer Tomaso Albinoni. Published in 1722 as part of his Opus 9 collection, the concerto is especially admired for its expressive slow movement.
Structured in three movements: Allegro e non presto, Adagio, and Allegro, the piece balances elegance and emotional depth. The central Adagio stands out for its lyrical, almost vocal quality, allowing the oboe to sing with warmth and melancholy against a gentle string accompaniment.
This concerto remains one of the finest examples of Baroque oboe writing and is considered Albinoni’s most famous authentic composition.