Composer

:

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1943

Average_duration

:

3:10

Lo, The Messiah is a choral work composed by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco in 1948. The piece was premiered on December 19, 1948, by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Roger Wagner Chorale, conducted by Alfred Wallenstein. The work is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different text. The first movement, "Lo, The Messiah," is a setting of a text by the composer himself. The second movement, "The Shepherds," is based on a text by the English poet John Milton. The final movement, "The Wise Men," is based on a text by the American poet Edwin Markham. The first movement, "Lo, The Messiah," is characterized by its grandeur and majesty. The music is full of sweeping melodies and lush harmonies, and the choir sings in a powerful, declamatory style. The movement begins with a fanfare-like introduction, which leads into a section in which the choir sings the words "Lo, the Messiah comes!" The music then builds to a climax, with the choir singing "Hallelujah!" in a triumphant, exultant manner. The second movement, "The Shepherds," is more subdued and introspective. The music is characterized by its gentle, flowing melodies and delicate harmonies. The choir sings in a more intimate, conversational style, as if telling a story. The movement begins with a solo soprano singing the words "It was the winter wild," which sets the scene for the rest of the movement. The choir then sings of the shepherds who were watching their flocks by night, and of the angels who appeared to them, announcing the birth of the Messiah. The final movement, "The Wise Men," is the most complex and varied of the three. The music is characterized by its shifting moods and textures, as well as its use of different languages. The movement begins with a solo tenor singing the words "Three kings from out the Orient," which sets the scene for the rest of the movement. The choir then sings of the journey of the wise men, and of their arrival in Bethlehem. The music shifts between different languages and styles, including Latin, English, and Hebrew, as the choir sings of the gifts they brought to the newborn King. Overall, Lo, The Messiah is a powerful and moving work, full of rich melodies, lush harmonies, and expressive choral writing. It is a testament to Castelnuovo-Tedesco's skill as a composer, and to his deep faith in the power of music to convey the message of the Christmas story.

More....