The events depicted in the oratorio are from the period 170–160 BC when Judea was ruled by the Seleucid Empire which undertook to destroy the Jewish religion. Being ordered to worship Zeus, many Jews obeyed under the threat of persecution; however, some did not. One who defied was the elderly priest Mattathias who killed a fellow Jew who was about to offer a pagan sacrifice. After tearing down a pagan altar, Mattathias retreated to the hills and gathered others who were willing to fight for their faith.[1]
Handel's music depicts the changing moods of the Jewish people as their fortunes vary from dejection to jubilation.[1]
Part 1
The people mourn the death of their leader Mattathias, but his son Simon tries to restore their faith and calls them to arms (Arm, arm, ye brave). Simon's brother, Judas Maccabaeus, assumes the role of leader and inspires the people with thoughts of liberty and victory through the power of Jehovah.[1]
Part 2
The people have been victorious, but Judas is concerned that vanity will cause the people to claim victory for themselves. When news arrives that the Seleucid commander Gorgias is preparing to enact revenge, the people's joyous mood gives way to wailing and dejection (Ah! wretched Israel!). Again Judas rallies the people (Sound an alarm) and insists that the pagan altars must be destroyed and that false religions must be resisted.[1][3]
Part 3
Victory has finally been achieved for the Jewish people (See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes!). News arrives that Rome is willing to form an alliance with Judas against the Seleucid empire. The people rejoice that peace has at last come to their country (O lovely peace).[1]
First performance
The first performance took place on 1 April 1747 at the Royal Opera House, and Judas Maccabaeus became one of Handel's most popular oratorios. The General Advertiser (issued on the day prior to the concert) announced the event as:[4]
COVENT-GARDEN
At the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden
To-morrow, will be perform'd a New Oratorio,
call'd
JUDAS MACCHABAEUS
With a New Concerto
Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no
Person to be admitted without Tickets, which
will be delivered that Day, at the Office at
Covent-Garden Theatre, at Half a Guinea
each. First Gallery 5s.; Second Gallery 3s.6d.
The Galleries to be Open'd at Half an Hour
after Four o'Clock.
Pit and Boxes at Five.
To begin at Half an Hour after Six o'Clock.
The performers in this original 1747 production included:
Eupolemus, Jewish ambassador to Rome: Thomas Reinhold (bass)
The famous chorus See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes! was composed during the summer of 1747 for Handel's next oratorio, Joshua. In the wake of its popularity, probably in 1751, Handel added it to Judas Maccabaeus, and so it forms a legitimate part of both oratorios.
Publication
The oratorio was published in London after the composer's death by William Randall, the successor to John Walsh.
Judas Maccabaeus was translated into German and published in 1866 as Volume 22 of the complete works series of the Händel-Gesellschaft.
Literary reference
Come, ever smiling Liberty, / And with thee bring thy jocund train is sung by Maria, the heroine of Mary Wollstonecraft's novel Maria (1798), at the point where she believes herself to have escaped from her abusive husband. She calls her state "Comparative liberty", suggesting that "the jocund train lagged far behind!" because she takes no pleasure in her need for the separation.[5]
Adaptations
Reorchestration
A re-orchestration of Judas Maccabaeus has been attributed to Mozart. The score in question updates Handel's original in a similar way to Mozart's 1789 version of Handel's Messiah. It has been suggested that this version of Judas Maccabaeus represents one of the projects instigated by Mozart's patron Gottfried van Swieten, who promoted the revival of baroque music. However, unlike the re-orchestration of Messiah, which is definitely by Mozart, it has not been possible to confirm Judas Maccabaeus was his. The work survives in a score in an unknown hand which was rediscovered in 2001, having been presented to the Halifax Choral Society in 1850.[6][7]
Nazi text
Under the Nazis the work was subject to "aryanization", a new text being provided so that Handel's music could be performed without reference to Jewish culture.[8]
See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes!
The third act chorus See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes! has been adapted and re-used several times.
In Britain during the 19th century, "See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes!" gained familiarity as a tune frequently played by brass bands at the opening of new railway lines and stations.[9]
A Hebrew language version of the hymn was composed by Levin Kipnis in 1936, titled "Hava Narima" [he] (הבה נרימה, "Let us raise"). This version maintains the theme of Judas Maccabaeus and his victories against the Seleucid Empire, and due to its subject matter is popularly sung during Hanukkah by Jewish communities in Israel and elsewhere.
Orchestration
The following orchestration was recorded by Chrysander in the Händel-Gesellschaft edition of 1866:
violins I, II
violas
cellos
basses (double-bass, bassi)
recorders I, II (flauto)
oboes I, II
flutes I, II (traversa)
horns I, II (corno)
trumpets I, II, III (tromba)
bassoon I, II (fagotti)
timpani
organ
keyboard
Dramatis personae
Judas Maccabaeus (tenor)
Simon, his Brother (bass)
Israelitish Woman (soprano)
Israelitish Man (mezzo-soprano)
Eupolemus, the Jewish Ambassador to Rome (alto)
First Messenger (alto)
Second Messenger (bass)
Chorus of Israelites
Chorus of Youths
Chorus of Virgins
Summary
The following table summarises the movements of the oratorio.[11]
Part
No.
Type
Title
Voices
Tempo
Time Signature
Key Signature
1
1
Overture
Largo, Allegro, Largo
4/4, 3/8, 4/4
G minor
1
2
Chorus
Mourn, ye afflicted children
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Largo
4/4
C minor
1
3
Recitative
Well may your sorrows
Israelitish man (Tenor)
4/4
1
4
Duet
From this dread scene
Israelitish man (Tenor), Israelitish woman (Alto)
Andante e staccato
3/4
G minor
1
5
Chorus
For Sion lamentation make
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Larghetto e un poco piano, Adagio
12/8, 4/4
F minor
1
6
Recitative
Not vain is all this storm of grief
Simon
4/4
1
7
Air
Pious orgies
Israelitish woman
Largo e sostenuto
4/4
E flat major
1
8
Chorus
O Father, whose Almighty power
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Larghetto, Allegro
3/4, 4/4
B flat major
1
9
Recitative (accompanied)
I feel the Deity within
Simon
4/4
1
10
Air
Arm, arm, ye brave
Simon
Allegro
4/4
C major
1
11
Chorus
We come, in bright array
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Allegro
3/4
C major
1
12
Recitative
'Tis well, my friends
Judas Maccabaeus
4/4
1
13
Air
Call forth thy powers
Judas Maccabaeus
Allegro
4/4
D major
1
14
Recitative
To Heaven's Almighty King we kneel
Israelitish woman
4/4
1
15
Air
O Liberty, thou choicest treasure
Israelitish woman
Largo
4/4
A major
1
16
Air
Come, ever-smiling Liberty
Israelitish woman
Andante
6/8
A major
1
17
Recitative
O Judas, may these noble views inspire
Israelitish man
4/4
1
18
Air
'Tis Liberty
Israelitish man
Larghetto, Adagio, Larghetto
4/4
E major
1
19
Duet
Come, ever-smiling Liberty
Israelitish woman, Israelitish man (mezzo-soprano)
