Biblical Royalty in Baroque Music
[00:00:00] Hello, Homeschool Harmony Heroes. This is Gena Mayo from Music in Our Homeschool, and it's the place where I help you include music and fine arts in your homeschool in simple, enjoyable ways. Today, we're doing something really different. We're combining Bible, history, and classical music as we explore three fascinating rulers from scripture: King David, King Solomon, and Queen Esther.
We'll also learn about one of history's greatest composers, George Frideric Handel, who used music to bring their stories to life. Now, because this is a podcast, I can't include the full music examples here. But don't worry, I've created a companion blog post where you can find links to each of the pieces we'll discuss today.
So just head over to MusicinOurHomeschool.com/BiblicalRoyalty, and you'll find the listening examples, discussion [00:01:00] questions, and a complete lesson that you can use with your children. So let's begin by talking about Handel.
If you are a homeschooler looking for ways to easily and affordably include a quality music education in your homeschool, you've come to the right place. This is the Music in Our Homeschool podcast. I'm Gena Mayo, homeschooling mom of eight and music teacher for over 30 years.
George Frideric Handel lived from 1685 to 1759. He was born in Germany, but spent much of his adult life in England. He's one of the most famous composers of the Baroque period of the 1600s to early 1700s. Even if you've never intentionally listened to Handel before, you've almost certainly heard some of his music.
His most famous work is Messiah, which includes the beloved Hallelujah Chorus, which was written [00:02:00] for Easter time, but now is almost always heard around Christmastime. But Handel didn't just write Messiah. He composed dozens of operas and oratorios. An oratorio is very similar to an opera in that it's a large musical work written for orchestra, choir, and solo singers, that tells a story through music. But unlike an opera, it's performed without sets, costumes, scenery, or acting. Just on stage like a concert.
Many of Handel's oratorios were based on stories from the Bible. He had a remarkable ability to take familiar Bible accounts and make the listeners feel the excitement, joy, sorrow, courage, and triumph of the characters through music.
Today, we're looking at three of those Biblical figures, David, Solomon, and Esther from the Old Testament of the [00:03:00] Bible. Let's start with King David.
David's story is one of the most beloved in the entire Bible. As a young shepherd boy, he was chosen by God for a special purpose. He defeated the giant Goliath, became a mighty warrior himself, and eventually the second king of Israel.
But David wasn't just a king and a warrior, he was also a musician. In fact, he may be the most musical person we know about in the entire Bible. We read that he played the harp. He wrote many of the psalms. He organized musicians for worship in the temple. He used music to praise God, express grief, celebrate victories, and teach spiritual truths.
And as a music teacher myself, I love pointing out that one of the Bible's greatest leaders was also one of its greatest musicians. [00:04:00] Handel featured David prominently in his oratorio Saul. Saul, of course, was the first king of Israel.
One of the most famous pieces associated with David is called "See the Conquering Hero Comes." When you listen to this piece in the companion lesson, pay attention to how Handel creates a feeling of celebration and victory. Imagine David returning after a great victory and the crowds gathering, the people cheering. Imagine the excitement of seeing their national hero. One of the amazing things about music is that it can communicate emotions even when we don't understand the words, or even when there are no words at all. Handel understood that. He knew how to write music that sounded victorious.
Next, let's talk about King Solomon. Solomon was David's son and succeeded him as king. [00:05:00] When most people think of Solomon, they think of wisdom. After becoming king, Solomon asked for wisdom rather than riches or power. God granted his request, and Solomon became known throughout the world for his extraordinary wisdom.
The Bible tells us that rulers and dignitaries came from far away to hear him speak. One of the most famous visitors was the Queen of Sheba. She had heard reports about Solomon's wisdom and wealth and wanted to see for herself whether the stories were true. Can you imagine that journey? We think that Sheba was as far away as probably Ethiopia. Traveling hundreds of miles in the ancient world wasn't easy, yet she considered the trip worthwhile because Solomon's reputation was so impressive.
Handel wrote an oratorio called Solomon, and one of the most famous movements from it is "Arrival of the Queen of [00:06:00] Sheba." When you listen to this piece in the accompanying blog post, imagine a royal procession approaching a magnificent palace. Imagine the elegant clothing, servants carrying amazing gifts, musicians announcing the arrival of an important guest. You'll hear that this piece is lively, energetic, and joyful. It's actually become so popular it's often played at weddings and formal celebrations today. What's fascinating is that Handel can create a feeling of grandeur and royalty only using instruments. Without any narration, we can almost picture the scene unfolding before us.
And finally, let's turn to Queen Esther. Esther's story is very different from those of David and Solomon. David was a shepherd who became king. Solomon inherited the kingdom, and both of them were [00:07:00] kings of Israel.
Esther was a young Jewish woman
Many years after those kings lived, because of the sin of Israel and Judah, they were taken into exile Esther was a young Jewish woman living in Persia who unexpectedly became queen to the king of Persia. Her story is one of courage, faith, and of trusting God's plan. When a plot threatened the Jewish people, Esther faced a difficult decision.
She could remain silent and protect herself because nobody knew she was Jewish, including her husband, or she could risk her own safety by speaking to the king because unless the king invites you to speak to him, you could be killed if he does not raise the scepter to accept you.
She asked those around her to pray, and she chose courage. One of the most famous verses from her story, found in the Book of Esther in the Bible, is when Mordecai tells her that perhaps she has come to her royal position for a time such as this. What a powerful [00:08:00] reminder that is for all of us, and for our children, that God can use ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
Handel's oratorio, Esther, was actually his first English-language oratorio. It became very popular and helped establish the oratorio as an important musical form in England during the Baroque period. When you listen to the excerpt in the companion lesson, think about Esther's bravery.
How might a composer portray courage through bravery? How might music communicate determination? These are wonderful questions to discuss with your children.
Now, let's compare our three biblical rulers. David reminds us of leadership, worship, and courage. Solomon reminds us of wisdom and blessings that come by seeking God. And Esther reminds us of bravery, faithfulness, [00:09:00] and trusting God's plan.
Handel found musical ways to portray each of them differently. That's one of the things I love most about music appreciation. We're not just learning facts about composers, like when did they live, and where did they live, and what type of music did they write. We're learning to listen and notice, connect ideas, emotions, history, literature, scripture, and art. That's the kind of rich learning that I try to help you display for your children through Music in Our Homeschool.
Before we finish, I want to encourage you to visit the companion blog post at MusicinOurHomeschool.com/BiblicalRoyalty, and you will also find a very special product there called the Biblical Royalty Artza Box. It's a subscription box of items made by artisans from Israel, and you can see my unboxing video there.
So head [00:10:00] over to that blog post for your 15-Minute Music Lesson. Thank you for joining me on the podcast today. I hope you feel inspired to explore more classical music and discover the many ways composers have brought Bible stories to life throughout history. Until next time, keep making music a part of your homeschool day.
Find links to all resources mentioned in this episode here: https://musicinourhomeschool.com/handel-biblical-royalty-music-lesson/
