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| DESCRIPTION: English conductor, musicologist and composer John Tobin has written the definitive work surveying the various editions of Handel's Messiah. Examining all extant source manuscripts, Tobin strips away the myths that have surrounded Messiah since its premiere, and expertly reviews the source manuscripts, the printed editions, alternative settings, orchestrations, performance styles, harmonic structures, the basso-continuoso figuring, and Handel's treatment of the English language. With clarity and pointed analysis he reveals the many changes, faults and errors which have crept into Messiah, and presents a conclusive summary of Handel's original intent and period style. |
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SITE RATING: 10/10 SITE
REVIEW: One of the
landmark texts ever published on Messiah, John
Tobin's 1969 A Critical Account Of Manuscript
Sources And Printed Editions remains
a benchmark in its field. His
thoroughness is staggering: he minutely
examines all available Messiah
sources, both manuscript, copies, and early
printed editions, and painstakingly points out
differences, errors, and various choices which
editors have made, and comparing not only
their faithfulness to the original sources,
but examining whether various changes have
merit. Tobin comes out strongly in favor
of a high amount of ornamentation, noting the
many times Handel would plan for soloists to
mimic the orchestral playing, and is feverish
in his documentation of the many changes which
Handel made himself over the course of many
years, commenting that while some of the
changes were necessary for the soloists and
other forces he was able to gather, but also
suggests that Handel was constantly
"tinkering" with Messiah in an attempt to
improve upon his first flush of inspiration.
With characteristic asides, Tobin
critiques each change, intoning his own
opinion about whether each "improvement" added
or subtracted to the value of the original
score. While this may seem presumptuous,
it lightens up the heavy, intensive scholarly
tone of the book considerably, making A Critical
Account... more readable than might
be assumed at first glance. Packed full
of information, John Tobin managed to create a
valuable, insightful look at the continuing
evolution of Messiah, and for those
deeply interested in the modern history of Messiah
would be well served by delving into this
book.
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