Jennens vs. Handel

Decoding the mysteries of "Messiah"

This product is an Ebook in PDF format. Download instructions will be emailed to you after payment.

Publication date: April, 2009, Pages: 140

"Shawn's book is an enjoyable read with information that is enlightening and entertaining".
Melody Wallace, voice teacher, piano accompanist and vocal coach at Cincinnati Music Academy

"Listening to Handel's "Messiah," like listening to the Scriptures on which it is based, is enriched by the process of exegesis: the detailed examination of the historical, political, theological, and also -- in Handel's case -- musical context of its composition. Shawn Charton's careful and illuminating scholarship has gathered together many threads of scholarship that enhance our understanding of this classic work."
The Rev. Nancy Roth, author, Assisting Priest, Christ Church, Oberlin, Affiliate Scholar, Oberlin College.

In 2009, the year of Handel, there is certainly room for another book about George Frederick, because Shawn Charton's view is a new and fresh one. Good Luck, Shawn!
Max van Egmond (baritone in repose).*

Shawn E. Charton grew up in Central Arkansas where he was musically active from a very young age. He was introduced to Handel's Messiah at the age of 14 through the Arkansas Choral Society. This formative time planted the seeds of what is now written in this book. Mr. Charton found himself wondering about Watkins Shaw's corrected key signatures and the function of Pifa and, in general, the plot of Messiah. After attending Oberlin for his undergraduate degree in vocal performance and doing graduate work at Florida State University he moved to Atlanta. While there Mr. Charton was asked to give an hour long seminar on Messiah for Decatur Presbyterian Church. He took this as an opportunity to revisit the questions of his childhood. This was the impetus for the book. Mr. Charton left Atlanta in 2004 to return home to Arkansas. While there he did a master's degree in Vocal Performance and then a second master's degree in Music Theory. The seminar became the basis for his thesis in Music Theory. After Arkansas, he moved to Cincinnati where he now resides. Mr. Charton teaches at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in the Preparatory Department. His time is split between voice and piano; including playing for ballet classes which he enjoys greatly. In his spare time, Mr. Charton composes, writes, paints and works on restoring his 1880 Victorian home in Price Hill, Cincinnati.