Since its Dublin premiere in 1742, Messiah has been performed all over the world among an international commune of choruses and orchestras. Handel spent nearly a decade on Messiah, resulting in multiple versions of the same piece. Here, Arion Press offers an adapted, complete vocal score by legendary conductor Nicholas McGegan, presented in its most popular version used in performance today.

McGegan, a renowned musician and conductor who has brought so much of Handel and early music to the world’s stages, has contributed a riveting historical introduction that describes the ascent, the surprising risks, and the longevity of the work that has defined an English language and music tradition for centuries.

To generate the musical score, Arion Press collaborated with music engraver Rowan O’Neal. Over a six-week period, the team, under the direction of Maestro McGegan, scrutinized the vocal and keyboard reduction currently in common usage not only to refine the existing score but to correct errors and inconsistencies which had accrued over time.

In this epoch-changing year of 2021, Arion Press’ Messiah, speaks to the endurance of melody, the depth of loss and rebirth, and the power of many voices joined as one. In a word that says everything about our dangerous ecstatic humanity: Hallelujah!

Production Details

• Limited edition of 200 numbered copies for sale
  Deluxe “Performance” edition of 100 numbered copies for sale

• 11¾ h x 8¼ w inches, 248 pages

• Limited edition: Smythe-sewn, machine-bound in full midnight blue crepe with gold foil stamping on the front cover, presented in handmade slipcases of blue-flecked silken yellow cloth over top and bottom and textured blue paper over the side panels

• Deluxe “Performance” edition: hand-sewn and hand-bound with black goatskin spines and black shantung cloth sides, gold titling on the spine, black foil stamping on the front and rear covers, and with hand-sewn headbands of black and ivory silk, presented in handmade slipcases covered in full mohair cloth with leather spine labels stamped in gold

• Arion publication #121, 2021

Prospectus

Read the full prospectus here.