Alexander’s Feast
by George Frideric Handel
When: December 4, 2022
Where: Lois Perkins Chapel at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
Who: San Gabriel Chorale with orchestra and soloists under the direction of Dr. Bruce Cain
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) is a late Baroque German composer who spent much of his professional life in England. In his time, he was known first for his Italian operas and later for his English oratorios. He may be best known to contemporary audiences as the composer of the popular oratorio, Messiah.
Alexander’s Feast was Handel’s first great commercial success for English oratorio, performed in 1736 in London. The work is based on a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton adapted from John Dryden’s ode Alexander’s Feast, or the Power of Music written to celebrate St. Cecelia’s Day, the patron saint of music.
The work describes a banquet held by Alexander the Great and his mistress, Thais, in the captured city of Persepolis. They are entertained by the musician Timotheus, whose music is so powerful at arousing various moods in Alexander that he is eventually incited to burn the city down in revenge for his dead Greek soldiers. The power and purity of St. Cecelia’s music in a final choral fugue supersedes Timotheus’ skill in composition.
In addition, the Chorale will be performing Zadok the Priest, also composed by Handel, which is an anthem first sung at the coronation of King George II of England in 1727. It has been performed at the coronation of every British monarch since its composition. The text is derived from the biblical account of the anointing of Solomon by the priest Zadok and was set to other music prior to Handel’s enduring rendition. This work was rearranged by Tony Britten in 1992, using it as the basis for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League anthem, heard world-wide at international soccer competitions.
