Georg Friedrich Händel: For Unto Us A Child Is Born: String Orchestra

The magnificent interweaving of harmonies and dialogue-like Voices in Handel's For Unto Us A Child Is Born make it a perfect addition to the festive choral repertoire. German-born, British Baroque composer George Frideric Handeloriginally composed this piece in 1741, for the English-language oratorio Messiah, which eventually became one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. As the last song of Scene 3 of Part I ofthe oratorio, which addresses Isaiah's specific prophecy about the virgin birth of a Messiah, For Unto Us A Child Is Born tells the news of Christmas, the birth of a son, in Isaiah's words as found in the Scripture (Isaiah 9:6).The delicate, familiar theme is introduced by the Sopranos and taken up by their counter-voices, the Tenors, later the same dialog is given over to the Altos and Basses. The tutti culminates in Wonderful, Counselor, The MightyGod, The Everlasting Father and The Prince of Peace.