The Compleat Messiah

DESCRIPTION: Caligraphic artist Timothy R. Botts takes inspiration from Handel's masterpiece, Messiah, and uses the text, along with the moods inspired by Handel's music, to create full-color sympathetic word pictures that interpret the meaning and message behind every passage of the oratorio. In addition, the artist has written explanatory notes to help the reader understand more fully the artist's intent.

SITE RATING: 6/10

SITE REVIEW: Was there ever a book about Messiah which more clearly and concisely stated its contents within its title than this book? Caligraphic Word Pictures Inspired by the Music and Text of George Frederick Handel's Messiah with Notes by the Artist is, without question, the most verbose title yet for a book about Handel's Messiah. Not only that, but it's appeal to the purchaser can be determined almost exclusively by its title, as well. If you're turned on by either A.) Caligraphy, or B.) Word pictures, as well as have a C.) manic love of all things Messiah, then this is the book for you. The artist uses different calligraphic medium to engrave meanings to Jenning's libretto - water-stained paper for "If There Be Any Sorrow"; or a jumble of overlapping words for "Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together?"; or a sun-like burst representing "The Lord Gave The Word" - the artist's choices are all subjective and vaguely interesting, but also static and, for the most part, obvious. The colors and mediums used tend to the bright and orderly for the more cheerful, positive movements, and the starker arias and choruses are given suitably monochromatic colors, and more disorderly arrangements. The words run all over the page - in columns and rows; they meaner here and there, and are repeated as often as the chorus repeats segments. I cannot truthfully say that I gleaned any additional meaning or insight from the artists efforts - stripped of the actual music, the art within this book might be best felt by those who are hearing impared, who seek understanding for the beauty and longevity of Handel's Messiah; but as a substiute for the acutal listening experience, this graphic representation of the text is interesting, but unfulfilling.