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''Joshua'' (HWV 64) is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. It was composed in a month, between 19 July 1747 and 19 August 1747, six months before the beginning of the oratorio season, and is Handel's fourth oratorio based on a libretto by Thomas Morell.〔Winton, Dean. "Joshua." ''Handel's Dramatic Oratorios and Masques''. London: Oxford UP, 1966. N. pag. Print.〕 The oratorio premiered on 9 March 1748 at the Covent Garden Theatre, London. '' Joshua'' is based on the Biblical story of Joshua as the leader of the Children of Israel. The story follows the Israelites from their passage over the river Jordan into Caanan and through the Battle of Jericho. The work also includes a fictitious love story between Achsah, Caleb's daughter and Othniel, a young soldier. Joshua is one of Handel's later works, from the height of his late creative period. It was the fourth oratorio Handel had written within the span of twenty months. Following the Jacobite Rising in England, Handel produced a series of English oratorios based on military themes: ''Occasional Oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus, Alexander Balus, Joshua'', and ''Solomon''. With these compositions, Handel brought to prominence the English oratorio, combining religious themes and England's native tongue. Joshua was one of his shortest oratorios, containing no genuine overture, only a brief orchestral movement simply titled, "Introduction." Joshua also included at least five pieces borrowed from other Handel compositions. Part one was completed on 30 July 1747, Part two on 8 August and Part three on 19 August.〔Handel's Dramatic Oratorios and Masques''. London: Oxford UP, 1966. N. pag. Print.〕 Contrary to the popular style of monody, Handel's oratorios enhanced the role of the chorus in the drama. Handel's second-most-famous chorus, "See the Conq'ring Hero Comes" was first penned for ''Joshua''. It was an immensely popular number and Handel soon added it to ''Judas Maccabaeus'', which had premiered the season before. The chorus is more often thought of in connection with that oratorio (''Judas'') because of its relatively greater fame. ==Dramatis personae== * Joshua, Leader of the Israelites (Tenor) 〔Joshua Choral Score- University of North Carolina School of the Arts Music Library Kalmus Classic Edition〕 * Othniel, a young warrior, promised to Achsah (Alto) * Caleb (Bass) * Achsah, Daughter of Caleb (Soprano) * Angel (Tenor) * Chorus of Israelites * Chorus of the defeated Israelites * Chorus of the Tribe of Judah * Chorus of Youths * Chorus of Virgins Original 1749 cast: *Thomas Lowe (Joshua) *Caterina Galli (Othniel) *Thomas Reinhold (Caleb) *Domenica Casarini Latilla (Achsah) ==Instrumentation== 〔IMSLP Joshua Full Score http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/e/e0/IMSLP18819-PMLP44492-HG_Band_17.pdf〕 The original Baroque instruments used would have been: *Violino I and II *Viola *Oboe I and II *Bass *Continuo *Traversa (Western concert flute) *Tromba (Slide trumpet) I and II *Timpani *Corno I and II Most of the arias in this piece are accompanied by strings, oboe and continuo, while the recitatives are sung only with continuo accompaniment. In early performances, the continuo part would have been played by a harpsichord player. The Part One aria 'Hark! Tis the linnet' features a traversa solo which acts as the song bird melody that Achsah then sings about. Timpani, tromba and corno are utilized during the more militaristic movements. ==Plot Summary== 〔Joshua Complete Score. Kamlus Edition. University of North Carolina School of the Arts Music Library〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joshua (Handel)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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