Today in class, we discussed three different examples of music with lyrics that paint a picture of the words they are singing in the song. All three of these examples are directly from Handel’s Messiah. The music and symphony behind these lyrics is what makes the picture painted so vivid in our minds. These examples are from movement 3, movement 26, and movement 44. The music in each of these examples portray the meaning of the text in a brand new light and like I said, it paints a picture.
The first example of this is Movement 3 which is Isaiah 40:4. This verse says “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight, and the rough places plain.” In the music, when the words “every valley shall be exalted” are being sung, the way it is sung portrays the meaning of the text. The beginning of the phrase is begins low, as it is talking about a valley. However, as the phrase continues, in order to paint the picture of exaltation, the music gradually gets higher and higher.
The second example is Movement 26 which is the verse Isaiah 53:6 that says “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” In the music put to this text, as the words describe the sheep going astray, it sounds very whimsical and wondrous. After the wondrous feeling, it goes on to feel heavier, darker, and deeper to help paint the picture of what the text is trying to convey.
The final example is Movement 44 which is the famous “Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth” section of Handel’s Messiah coming from Revelation 19:6. In this section it feels very exciting and celestial or heavenly. This paints the picture very well of the eagerness and excitement behind this proclamation of praise.