Composer

:

George Frederick Handel

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Oratorio

Compose Date

:

1738

Average_duration

:

98:31

Movement_count

:

53

Movement ....

Israel in Egypt, HWV 54 is an oratorio composed by George Frederick Handel in 1738. It premiered on April 4, 1739, at the King's Theatre in London. The oratorio is divided into three parts, each consisting of several movements. Part I of Israel in Egypt begins with a symphony, followed by a chorus that sets the scene of the Israelites' oppression in Egypt. The subsequent movements depict the plagues that God sends to Egypt, including the turning of the Nile into blood, the plague of frogs, and the plague of lice. The part concludes with a chorus celebrating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. Part II focuses on the Israelites' journey through the Red Sea and their subsequent celebration of their freedom. The movements include a chorus describing the parting of the Red Sea, a duet between Moses and Miriam, and a chorus celebrating the destruction of Pharaoh's army. Part III begins with a chorus praising God for his deliverance of the Israelites. The subsequent movements depict the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, including their complaints and God's provision of manna and water. The oratorio concludes with a chorus celebrating the Israelites' arrival in the Promised Land. Israel in Egypt is known for its use of choral writing, with many of the movements featuring intricate and complex choral harmonies. Handel also employs a variety of musical techniques to depict the plagues and other events in the oratorio, such as the use of dissonance to represent the plague of lice. Overall, Israel in Egypt is a powerful and dramatic work that showcases Handel's skill as a composer and his ability to convey complex emotions and events through music.

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