Customer Reviews

Messiah

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After many readings and performances from other editions, the Watkins Shaw edition stands out as being the most authoritative and being the closest to the original score with most, if not all, of Handel's original markings. Having studied both Schirmer and Oxford editions, this edition has the most to offer the true musical purist, especially from an accompanimental standpoint. The six page preface is extremely helpful in pinpointing performance notes to exacting ornamentation to accurate rhythmic interpretations. A must have for your choral music library!

This very fine edition is perfectly suitable for the listener wishing to follow along to a recording or a performance (why people do this at a live performance, I do not know). But it is also a very affordable vocal score for performance.

It has several advantages. First, the printing is clear and easy to read. Second, the keyboard accompaniment isn't simply for a rehearsal pianist. It provides an organist a quite usable arrangement and the rehearsal pianist guidance as to what to play and what can be left out. Third, it doesn't have German that one has to ignore as one finds in other editions.

I have had my copy for many years and used it more than most folks ever will use theirs. Yes, I did find it useful to put some clear plastic covering on and had to re-glue the spine once. But that is trivial for the use it has provided me.

Strongly recommended.

This revised choral score of Handel's famous MESSIAH is destined to become the performance standard. This new edition carefully revises and collates the different manuscripts of the famous score, and gives the performer a
version closest to what Handel intended. Watkins Shaw's scrupulous editing and copious and helpful notes, and the easy-to-read printing make this a must for the serious musician.

As a choir student who just learned Messiah for the first time, I found this edition a wonderful work. It is not only a pleasure for Messiah purists (see review below) but also for those newly introduced to Handel's work. I loved using the Watkins Shaw Edition so much!

The book was in great condition but I ordered it for overnight delivery but it didn't come for at least four days. I expected it on a Friday and it didn't arrive until the next Tuesday. I think I should receive the overnight fee as a refund.

This publlication of Handel's Messiah provides a useful layout for the layman chorister - it separates the "Recitatives and Chorus" by numbers for ready access. The volume may be bound with a cover at a local reproduction center like Staples or OfficeMax. Excellent price!

This is a fantastic edition of one of the most fantastic musical creations of all time. It has a lot of really helpful reminders like written in hemiolas and suggested dynamic notation. I like this edition because it doesn't try to change what Handel wrote over 200 years ago. Great great great edition to add to your library.

This is a very scholarly edition of Handel's Messiah that includes several alternate versions of Recitatives and Arias grouped at the back of the score. It is very affordable for any chorus or organization. We have used this edtion for over 50 years in our community. If you can purchase new it is the best value.

I recall that my parents had a copy of the Messiah vocal score when I was growing up. Once I learned to play piano with some efficiency, I enjoyed attempting various parts of the accompaniment, and singing along. My mother and I participated in community performances of Messiah when I was in my late teens/early twenties. That old score that we had probably fell apart decades ago. I'm now delighted to have it in my possession once again so that I can follow along when listening to Messiah.

I have ordered a number of Messiah Choral scores from Amazon, and each time they have arrived within the expected time frame, well-packed and in tip-top condition. The price is extremely reasonable, even with postage and handling, and it's a pleasure to sing in a massed choir from such an easily-readable score!