Handel composed many brilliant pieces in his distinguished career, but none is so famous as his masterpiece, “The Messiah.” Many people recognize the “Alleluia Chorus” from that collection, and every Christmas, sing-alongs are held where people can gather and sing the beautiful music that reminds them of Christ and His coming to the world
In “Halleluiah,” author Scott Featherstone tells the story of Handel, an arrogant man who thought only of himself, his music, and his stomach. He considered himself to be the greatest composer who ever lived, and while that may have been true, his pride kept him from forming deep relationships and connecting with those around him. He sent money home to his mother from time to time, a deeply devoted woman who had sacrificed a great deal for her son and his musical education. Her hopes and dreams were fulfilled as she saw her son rise to heights of greatness.
But with great pride comes a great fall, and after a long season of acclaim and success, Handel entered a dry spell. His music no longer touched the hearts of his listeners and the concert hall began to produce operas written by other composers. Feeling downtrodden and on the very brink of bankruptcy, Handel returns to his home and his mother for some much needed relaxation.
While visiting his mother, he visited a local children’s home and found a measure of joy in the faces of the little innocents who gathered around him. As he struggled to bring his life into balance and to find his muse once again, the children’s acceptance was a precious gift to him. They didn’t know about the bad reviews he had received; they only knew him as a friend.
His circumstances went from bad to worse, and in his moment of absolute despair, a miracle happened. He had received a libretto for an opera from a man who was a devoted scholar of the Bible. This man believed that if Handel were to take on this project and use his genius to set it to music, it would achieve the glorious heights Handel had always dreamed of. His pride kept him from truly listening to his friend, but as he was reduced to his darkest hour, he remembered that libretto and pulled it out, touched for the first time by the words it contained, mostly taken straight from the Bible. He set to work immediately.
His long-time friend and housekeeper Peter tried to get him to eat and drink, but he was consumed with his work, and would hardly even sleep. When, after only twenty-four days he was done, he had completed what became one of the most recognized pieces of music in the world, and one that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.
With subplots intertwined throughout, this historical novel was deeply touching and compelling. I heartily recommend it.
(This book was first published … )