Which instruments did Handel use in the original orchestra for Messiah?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

For the original 1742 premiere of Messiah, George Frideric Handel utilized a typical Baroque orchestra consisting of a few dozen players. The ensemble was primarily composed of:1

  • Strings: The core of the orchestra.1
  • Woodwinds: Used alongside the strings.1
  • Brass and Percussion: Employed only minimally.1

While later performances—such as the 1784 centenary commemoration—featured vastly expanded forces including large sections of flutes, oboes, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, and an organ, Handel’s original score was designed for a much smaller, more intimate group of musicians.1