This book on Handel's "Messiah" reflects Helmuth Rilling's remarkable skills, both as a conductor and as an educator. It is literally a "study guide" for conductors and performers which shows the step-by-step thought process Rilling uses in preparing a score - a methodology which can be applied to any work. More importantly, Rilling challenges the reader to probe Handel's thinking - to consider ways of more effectively communicating the deeper layers of meaning found within this masterwork.