Israel in Egypt 3892175 223904878 2008-07-06T12:55:21Z GuillaumeTell 689100 improved wording, link to Daily Post {{Handel oratorios}}'''''Israel in Egypt''''' ([[HWV]] 54) is a [[The Bible|biblical]] [[oratorio]] by the composer [[George Frideric Handel]]. Many historians believe the libretto was compiled by Handel's collaborator [[Charles Jennens]], and it is composed entirely of selected passages from the [[Hebrew Bible]], mainly from [[Exodus]] and the [[Psalms]]. Israel in Egypt premiered at [[London]]'s [[Her Majesty's Theatre|King's Theatre in the Haymarket]] on [[April 4]] [[1739]]. Handel started it soon after the opera season at King's theatre was cancelled because of a lack of subscribers. The oratorio was not well received by audiences, although commended in the ''[[Daily Post]]'', and the second performance was shortened, the mainly choral work now augmented with Italian [[aria]]s. An early version of the piece is in three parts rather than the later two; incorporating the first part more famous as "The ways of Zion do Mourn", with altered text as "The Sons of Israel do Mourn" lamenting the death of Joseph. This section precedes the Exodus which in the tripartite version is Part II rather than Part I. This variant has been recorded by [[Andrew Parrott]] and [[Stephen Cleobury]] a.o. This oratorio is notable because it was the earliest known piece of music to be recorded. The recording was made in [[The Crystal Palace]] by [[Colonel|Col.]] [[George Gouraud]] in [[1888-06-29]] on Edison's [[phonograph cylinder|yellow paraffin cylinder]]. {{Listen|filename=IsraelInEgypt18880629.ogg|title=Handel festival: "Israel In Egypt" (excerpt)|description=This version is the earliest known music recording. Recorded on a paraffin cylinder in June 29, 1888. — 2274 KB|format=[[Ogg]]}} ==External links== * [http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/israel.htm full-text libretto hosted by Stanford] * [[s:Israel in Egypt|Israel in Egypt]] libretto hosted by [[Wikisource]]. * [http://www.bostoncecilia.org/prognotes/handel-israel.html Program Notes] by [[Boston Cecilia]] ==References== Anthony Hicks. "George Frideric Handel", ''[[Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians|Grove Music Online]]'', ed. L. Macy (accessed [[May 20]] [[2006]]), [http://www.grovemusic.com/ grovemusic.com] (subscription access). [[Category:Oratorios by George Frideric Handel]] [[de:Israel in Egypt]] [[fr:Israël en Égypte]] [[pl:Izrael w Egipcie]]