Joshua

Although not often performed today, Joshua was one of the most successful of Handel’s later oratorios. He composed the music quickly over the summer of 1747, leaving more time than usual to prepare for the first performance, which eventually took place very successfully at Covent Garden in March 1748. It was one of a series of “victory oratorios” cashing in on the public’s appetite for militaristic epics starring Old Testament heroes. Joshua has two parallel plots: the Israelites’ battles, and the love interest provided by the minor characters Achsah and Othniel (who neatly straddles both plot lines, heroically leading the final battle). The Biblical narrative provided for some thrilling dramatic scenes, not least Joshua stopping the sun and moon in their tracks, and the destruction of Jericho’s walls—which Handel delivered with one of his greatest thunder choruses. Unsurprisingly, Handel assembled an orchestral army with ranks of flutes, trumpets, and horns alongside the standard troops, plus a formidable secret weapon—the double drums from the Tower of London. Among the many fine arias, the introspective “Shall I in Mamre’s fertile plain” comes from the same stable as “He was despised” (Messiah), and “O had I Jubal’s lyre” is an impressive virtuoso set-piece for soprano. The best-known movement in the work, though, is the wonderfully patriotic chorus “See the conquering hero comes.”