Striking, meditative watercolors are set within a handsomely designed gift edition of the wordbook to accompany Handel's most famous and beloved choral work. Perfect for family sing-alongs at home or at the concert hall, this elegant volume will be a Christmas gift-giving favorite. Christopher Hogwood's intelligent and informative introduction offers a fresh perspective on Handel's writing of Messiah and on its transformations in both content and performance since. And Barry Moser contributes a thoughtful afterword discussing the aspects of Judeo-Christian ceremony and practice that influenced his illustrations.

From the dust jacket