Handel’s Messiah, written in 1741, is the oldest concert work still in the standard performance repertoire. It serves as the preeminent musical portrait of Christian devotion, uniting performers and listeners in a jubilant celebration of Christ’s divine mission and love of all humanity. This presentation traces Messiah’s appeal beyond its origins as sacred entertainment for Anglican audiences and examines its enduring significance as an anthem of peace and understanding across religions, cultures, and continents.
Luke Howard earned his bachelor’s degree in music education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia, a master’s in music history at BYU, and a Ph.D. in music history at the University of Michigan. He served on the music faculties at Minnesota State University, Moorhead and the University of Missouri, Kansas City before joining the BYU School of Music in 2002. In addition to teaching music history, he sang with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for 15 years and is a well-known program annotator and essayist for major arts organizations around the world.
Part of the Kennedy Center's winter 2025 lecture series, "Building and Brokering Peace."