The approach that our group decided to take on Handel's Messiah was to
explore the relationship between specific tracks from the list in the
Handel link to topics covered in class. The tracks that we will be
discussing are: 2 (“And the Glory of God shall be revealed”), 4(
“For unto us a child is born”), 5(“Rejoice greatly, O daughter
of Zion”), 10(“Why do the nations so furiously rage together?”),
and 11(“Let us break their bonds asunder.”)
“And the glory of the Lord shall
be revealed”-This line brings to mind the verse of
Isaiah discussed in class “The people who walk in darkness will see
a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on
them (Isaiah, 9:1),” because it implies that a light of
understanding shall come and reveal the glory of God. In the
Christian interpretation, this prophesy is fulfilled with Jesus when
he comes into the world, under the light of a star, to teach humanity
and allow them to 'see God;' after all, He explains to us that he is
“the way, the truth, and the light
(John 14:6).”
“For unto us a child is born”-The title of this track also refers to
a verse of Isaiah which we mentioned in class. This prophesy could
have referred either to Jesus or King Hezekiah, depending on whether
it was being interpreted in a Christian or Jewish context. In either
interpretation, it was fulfilled because Christ was born into the
world to reveal God to us and die for us, and Hezekiah became King
and led a peaceful reign, thus either of them could have been the
promised “Prince of Peace (Isaiah, 9:6).”
“Aria:Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion”-
The verse of Handel's Messiah that uses the line "Rejoice greatly, O daughter
of Zion" relates to our class discussions on Isaiah. We talked
about the divided kingdom, which became Israel in the north and Judah
in the south. The interesting thing about this verse is that "O
daughter of Zion" seems to be addressing all of the people at
once, rather than calling separate groups of people. All of God's
people are called to rejoice as one.
“Aria: Why do the nations so furiously rage together?”
The psalm"-Why do the nations so furiously rage together?" also relates to the
divided kingdom, as well as the other kingdoms around them. Israel,
Judah, and Assyria were constantly fighting with one another,
although they were all the people of Abraham. This fighting is
paralleled by the fighting we read about in Feiler's Abraham, when he
experienced the fighting that is still happening in Jerusalem today.
They are still people who all consider themselves to be descendants
of Abraham, but they continue to fight over details of which son of
Abraham each group descended from.
“Let us break their bonds asunder”-This track relates to the prophecy in
Isaiah 9:4 about deliverance from the “yoke that burdens them.”
The deliverance from the Assyrians, as well as the deliverance from
the Egyptians in the pas fulfills this promise.
Considering that the title of this musical work is “The Messiah,” do you think the pieces conveyed
the sense that the prophecies are messianic? If so, which ones?
-Regina Maimone, Isabelle Salimian, and Maria Meli
I believe that Handel wrote the Messiah specifically about Jesus. Even though all the text in the Messiah is from the old testament and had its own meaning in the context of Judaism, the words have great meaning to Christians. I recognize almost all these readings from Advent liturgy and of course parts of the Messiah are classic Christmas and easter music. These passages do seem to foretell Christ. "The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light" I've heard this interpreted as the light of a redeemer coming to a sinful people. "let us break their bonds asunder" had great meaning to the Jews historically, in the Christian tradition it seems to be the metaphorical bonds of sin that we must break from. "Why do the nations rage so furiously together?" this is interesting if we read it as the fighting in the time of Isaiah or in the Holy land today, but I think for Christians more broadly it relates to the violence of humankind in general and our need for a "prince of peace" and "peace on earth, goodwill towards men." The "rejoice greatly, oh daughter or Zion" seems to be very specifically Jewish but that hasn't stopped people from interpreting it in a Christian light. I immediately think of Bach's "Zion hears the Watchman's voices" (Zion hears the watchmens voices, with gladness all her heart rejoices,
ReplyDeleteshe eager wakes to greet the day.
See, her Lord from heav'n descending
With grace and truth and power unending,
Her day-star dawns with brightest ray.
O come, thou blessed One, Lord Jesu, God's own Son,We follow there Thy feast to share,
And taste the joys beyond compare.)
Although Handel probably did write Messiah as a specific reference to Jesus, we have to remember that what is written in the musical compositions also came previously from Jewish tradition and scripture. Therefore, although it may appear that the Messiah spoken of is Jesus, we have to remember that many Jews are still awaiting the coming of their Messiah. If taken out of the context of the incarnation of God through Jesus Christ, would the musical pieces also make sense and have meaning for Jews, despite their apparent Christian focus?
DeleteI like what Evangeline had to say. I also think that these are major league Holiday songs, and, in general, speak to the joyful coming and reign of Jesus throughout, especially if you consider "Hallelujah". The entirety of "The Messiah" portrays this joyful theme as well.
ReplyDeleteI also think that that Handel referenced Jesus in his prophecies. As it has been noticed that there is an apparent Christian focus, I feel as though these musical pieces can make sense and have relevant meanings for the Jewish audiences. Music can convey numerous meanings to differing members of an audience. Yes, the Jewish people are awaiting their Messiah, but the music can also convey what the messiah can be personified as, the characteristics of the messenger of the divine. While also observing the other pieces, as Evangeline pointed out, there can be made numerous correlations between the conflicts of the here and now and those that are said in the scriptures. Handel is presenting messianic prophecies but the way in which we interpret these words can be disputed. For those who deny that this speaks strictly about Jesus, this work can be taken as a whole as merely describing the nature of who the "anointed one" of God will be and what that person will represent in totality to the rest of humanity.
ReplyDeleteExactly, which is what we were trying to distinguish in class with the readings from Isaiah. Of course, it is safe to say that these musical compositions do relate to Jesus as the Messiah, but it's always good to take a step back and see how they appear to people of other religions and beliefs.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI think your point is good, Brooks, because it helps details that the music can possibly be listened to a Jewish audience and not be taken as strictly christological. However, Handel's interpretation and emphasis of some specific parts of the piece may make ti seem that the author wants it to be christological.
DeleteI think that these musical selections did a pretty good job of conveying that the prophecies are messianic. They sound very grand and appropriately so, since the coming of the Messiah is a significant event. I also agree with previous comments that people of many different religions can relate to these songs and not just Christians. One of the great things about music is how everyone can interpret it differently and bring a new and fresh perspective into the light.
ReplyDeleteI agree that I also predominately see the specific reference to Christ throughout "The Messiah," although I am also aware of my own bias and it is natural for me to think this. In listening to the piece I, like Shultz, get a sense of the joy of Christ's coming and the victory that is associated with it. And this joy is what most strongly links the piece to Christ in my mind. However, as Brooks pointed out "The Messiah" could also be referring to the Messiah yet to come, as the Jewish people believe, and the joy that is apparent in the piece could be in reference to that Messiah. While I agree that this could be the case, I feel that it should be noted that, if I am correct, in the Jewish tradition, these passages from Isaiah are not taken to be in reference to the Messiah, but as was previously discussed, to King Hezekiah. This makes it seem a little odd to me that a piece entitled "The Messiah" and which references passages from Isaiah that Christians view as a foretelling for Christ would be about the Messiah yet to come as perceived by the Jewish people.
ReplyDeleteI liked what Lindsay said about how music can be interpreted differently by various groups of people and bring new perspectives to light. All people can appreciate this music for its beauty and can bring their own interpretations to the table. Music brings people together in that way. However, no matter how many variations of interpretation there are, there is always one correct interpretation which the artist intended. I believe that Handel did a fairly good job of conveying the idea that these pieces are meant to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. For Christians, this obviously points toward Christ, especially "Aria: Rejoice greatly O Daughter of Zion." The Jewish people can still appreciate this music in their own way, just as they interpret the writings of Isaiah differently from Christians. The Jewish people can interpret these pieces as proclamations of the Messiah that they believe still has yet to come.
ReplyDeleteI really love Handel and the Messiah, and I think that all of the connections you made to the text of Isaiah are really great. Like everyone who has commented before me, I agree that this work is most certainly messianic. However, I disagree that this particular work would refer to anything other than a Christian Messiah. Handel was Christian. While I understand that the Messiah to some people is not Jesus, I personally believe in Jesus as the Messiah, and Handel wrote this as a Christian to celebrate Jesus as the Messiah. Part I of the Messiah greatly draws from prophecies from Isaiah and alludes to the life of Christ. Then, in Part II, Handel uses music to specifically portray the Passion and life of Jesus. The famed "Hallelujah Chorus" is meant to celebrate Christ's Resurrection. Part III is about time after the Resurrection. I think that the way that Old Testament passages are worked together with New Testament passages is brilliant, and it illuminates an important point: New Testament passages are used in the Messiah. So, Handel's Messiah portays the Christian interpretation of Christ as our Messiah. I recognize the importance of the Jewish interpretation of the Messiah. However, given the historical and musical context of Handel's Messiah, I think it is safe to say that this is about Jesus as the Messiah.
ReplyDeleteDifferent interpretations of music, even religious, are expected. Certainly we as Christians and more specifically Catholics interpret this music in one way, and Jews interpret it in another. Both have meaning. As Catholics, we believe this these passages in Isaiah do reference Jesus. One can see this through the various titles in Handel's Messiah. "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed" brings to my mind the quote referenced by Dan a few weeks back by St. Irenaeus "the glory of God is man fully alive." Only in Christ can we find the fulfillment of our desires and a model for our humanity and how we are supposed to live. God's glory was revealed in Christ in order that we may glorify Him more fully. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion" in the Catholic tradition, references Mary as the mother of the Messiah. "He shall feed his flock like a like shepherd" has a clear parallel to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. "For unto us a child is born" references the Nativity. God becomes a man to save us. He does not save us form heaven merely by declaring salvation upon men, he becomes a man to suffer, die, and rise to destroy sin and death for us. These are just a few examples of the parallels and fulfillments of the scriptures. Certainly Jews don't agree with all of this, but I am arguing that from the Catholic perspective, the Isaiah passages discussed fit in perfectly with our salvation history.
ReplyDeletei think the beauty revealed in this piece requires the attentive listener to be transformed and inspired to adopt an awareness of the magnanimity of the universe and of its creator. most art forms succeed in instilling and conveying such a great sense of wonder but in this particular piece, because i do believe in christ and that he is the messiah, i am effected so wonderfully and am overcome with such excitement about the coming of our Lord as the infant Jesus, who, in his vulnerability, came to save us.
ReplyDeleteYes i do think that the passage inserted within the pieces are prophetic because Handel's intention for them was to proclaim the joy of the coming of the Christ. the use of them in this manner does not define them as prophetic, but within the orchestration, they reveal to the listener the identity that Jesus assumes as Messiah, Son of God and Son of Man.
it is undeniable that the passages from Isaiah can be applied to Jesus for in his ministry and through our prayer life, he reveals to us his identity that is not defined by the prophesies but rather embraces them and brings them to fulfillment. if Jesus did not fulfill the prophesies of the Old Testament, he would still be our savior. the prophesies were meant as indicators so that the Jewish people would know of the arrival of their Lord and Savior. Similarly, just because the Jewish people do not believe that Jesus is the MEssiah, and therefore, not their savior, does not deny that Jesus indeed is their Savior and can and will bring about their salvation.
God does not require that we acknowledge him or even love him. He is no less our father just because we do not name ourselves as his sons and daughters.
The section of Handel's Messiah that I found most beautiful, in composition of both words and music, was the Aria "Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion." What struck me was that the prophet is calling the people of Israel to rejoice, despite the doom that looms over them from the north. It's clear from Isaiah's words that this is not an easy time for Israel, but that he turns right around and tells Israel to rejoice is remarkable. And its not a rejoicing for the distant future when all the prophecies will be fulfilled, it has a sense of urgency that is spurring the people on to rejoice right now and in the midst of their troubles.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I love your point about how remarkable of a thing it is that Isaiah's words would tell Israel to rejoice at such a hard time. It really is a great thing to think about; thanks for pointing it out! :)
DeleteWow! What great music! So joyful and also majestic! Such elation comes from the joy felt by George Frederic, and indeed all Christians, especially with the help of this wonderful meditation on Isaiah's prophecy. If Isaiah heard the piece would it resonate with him as it does for us? I think he and many others would undoubtedly be struck by the intricacy and beauty of this music, yet it strikes us in a very special and unique way that is deeper than just the music. What strikes us is Handel's ingenious retrospective look at Isaiah's writings. Isaiah would miss something in listening to this piece because he never met Christ. We did. While he must have been longing for the Messiah, he may not have meant these prophecies to refer to Him. Yet in our lives we see his prophecies fulfilled. In fact, as Christians we can literally read anything in the old testament and see it fulfilled by Christ: Adam, Moses and the Ten Commandments, King David, the Jewish Law... the list goes on. In fact we have the beautiful experience in our lives of seeing everything answered by Christ. The bad isn't taken away, but it is made new. That is why this text MUST be Messianic. It has to be, even if it has a unique meaning to the Jews and others. No matter what, God spoke these words to Isaiah to prefigure Christ, however Isaiah himself or the Jewish tradition meant them. Just as Adam's sin prefigures and is saved by Christ's redemption.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this is just my ignorance speaking, but I think the reason it's so hard for all of us to break away the image of Jesus from these music pieces and interpret it in a Jewish context is because personally, I've never heard any distinctly "Jewish" music before. So I educated myself quickly on youtube, and for those of you who've seen "Fiddler on the Roof," it's very akin to that type of sound: people singing together, celebrates the sound of a group chorus, with the occasional solo of a deep voice. And no, I don't think I'm stereotyping when I say that...
ReplyDeletePS Ofra Haza is AMAZING.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRijgRZmqvI
As for interpretation lyrically, all these songs come from the Old Testament:
Pt 2 = Isaiah 40:5
Pt 4 = Isaiah 9:6
Pt 5 = Zecchariah 9:9-10
Pt 10 = Psalm 2:1-2
Pt 11 = Psalm 2:3
And from a strictly lyrical base, I found all of these to be easy to interpret in a Jewish perspective, except Pt 4: "The Virgin Shall Concieve" I think is most glaringly obvious in the fact that the peice was written from a Christian perspective. But all the others seem to work fine, in particular Pt 10 & 11. I think those speak specifically to the Hebrews' plight at that time, and I found both of those to be the most moving to me...
What interests me the most is the repetition in the song. It's not like these scripture passages have scarcely any vivid imagery; they're loaded with it! But it does help hammer in the theological messages. Again though, I found Pts 10 & 11 to be the best lyrically because to me, the repetition makes sense.
In Pt 10, "Why do the nations so furiously rage together," it's a deliberation; it's that agonizing argument you have inside your head: "Why is this HAPPENING!?!?"
And for Pt 11, it's rejoicing as well as implying "doing" something about it: "Let us break their bonds assunder, and cast their evil away from us." The mood changes between 10 & 11 actually heighten the storytelling.
Thank you for that piece of Jewish music. I think it's interesting that the Jewsih people use the same Scriptural words in their worship that we do at mass. The fact that the Jewish people not only say these words but sing them implies that the words were significant to the Jewish people thousands of years ago and are still important to them today. These passages then refer to significant events in Jewish history, which you and others have described. Just to add: remeber in class we learned that "virgin" refers to a young woman or an unmarried woman, even if she is not a "virgin" by our understanding. I think we said that King Hezekiah's mother was a young woman, so the virgin who gave birth to a messiah of the Jewish people could refer to her.
DeleteExactly! I thought the same thing...and I personally love Fiddler on the Roof, so that was a good one to reference. I think it's great how many of the pieces can indeed be interpreted with both perspectives, although in a different light. Obviously not all, but many can evoke meaning for both Jews and Christians.
DeleteFrom my own biased perspective of this piece, I also see it as messianic. But at the same time, The Messiah can definitely be interpreted according to the Jewish tradition. I think "For unto us a child is born" especially can be applied to King Hezekiah, the good king whom the Jews longed for. The line "And the government shall be upon his shoulders" stood out to me in a particular way, because, taken literally, it seems like something a true political king, like King Hezekiah, would do. Maybe this line stuck out to me because I don't usually think about the coming of Jesus as being a political action. Like others have said before me, I think a really beautiful part of music is its ability to affect and impact so many different people and in different ways! The interpretation of this piece may differ from tradition to tradition and even individual to individual, but it remains a profoundly beautiful and incredible work of art.
ReplyDeleteHandel's "Messiah" is definitely messianic, no question. I say this not only with a Christian biased, but also by knowing both the intent of the composure and the construction of the piece. It explores the life of Jesus, from his predictions by Isaiah, through this ministry, to his resurrection. In fact, the Hallelujah chorus, most often associated with Christmas, is actually the celebration of Christ rising on the third day; the celebration of Easter, arguably the most important Christian holiday. I think it is those contexts that really show how the "Messiah" is seeing Isaiah from a Christian point of view.
ReplyDeleteI see "The Messiah" as being more oriented in Christianity than not, given the religion of the composer and his personal goal in compiling the piece. I feel that Handel does an excellent job conveying the messianic message. "The Messiah" is full of hope and joy and to me has a sense of something larger than life. "Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion" was the section that I felt carried the most powerful movements, musically, and had the deepest connection to Jesus, whom Handel was inspired by. The music has very specific references to the story of Jesus and its developments in the Bible, making it even more powerful to a Christian audience.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the rest of the group that "The Messiah" by Handel is a messianic piece of music. The tone is very uplifting and celebratory. While I was listening to it, I was reminded of Christmas carols that predicted and celebrated the coming of Christ. There were too many similarities to ignore the connection between the Christian image and message of "The Messiah". The most influential part of the work that convinced me this was the case was the "Hallelujah" chorus. The choir created an uplifting message that did a wonderful job of conveying the hope and joy surrounding Jesus' coming. Lastly, I loved how Handel used the power of music to convey his message across more than just the religion of Christianity.
ReplyDeleteThe pieces certainly are composed in the understanding of the messianic tradition. The joy and happiness expressed in the melodies and the orchestral parts is something that Christians understand as the joy of the Messiah. I believe every piece conveyed this, as each piece had a different emphasis.
ReplyDeleteThese excerpts all messianic. In the first three chosen excerpts (2, 4 and 5), besides the fact that the lyrics are proclaiming the coming of Christ, the melody sounds so triumphant and joyous because the music proclaims the joy, not just the lyrics. Even the 10th excerpt, which is not supposed be joyous, sounds joyous. I think this probably comes from Handel's style but if that is the word of the Lord - inspired by God and proclaimed by humanity, than perhaps it should sound triumphant as God is all powerful.
ReplyDeleteHandel's Messiah is definitely Messianic. It was the culture in which Handel lived and was written for that purpose; hence the title "The Messiah." However, I still don't understand how Isiah could have meant that King Hezekiah. Was Hezekiah really a prince of peace? God-hero? Father-forever? If this terms were really true then it sounds like Hezekiah should be celebrated today, he sounds like a Messiah. "His dominion is vast and forever peaceful...both now and forever." Isiah 9:6 Wow this is a overly romantasized description for a mortal King. Somehow I feel that Isiah's prophecies weren't just to describe King Hezekah. There's too much packed in those prophecies to just be about the present. I can understand in reading Isiah how one can say scripture is "divinely inspired."
ReplyDeleteLike many others, I realize that a major part of music's beauty and power is how it can be related to by many different people of varying beliefs, faiths, and cultures because each person brings his/her own interpretation to the piece.
ReplyDeleteI recognize how each of the verses are relatable to my own Catholic faith - that the verses are prophetic and messianic and are speaking of Jesus as our Savior. Lauren makes a great point by saying that Handel's "Messiah" makes use of the New Testament scripture, which further makes me believe that this was meant to illuminate Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
"Aria: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion”: This is an absolutely beautiful part of a verse because it unites all believers of God. No matter what we believe to be the true message behind Handel's "Messiah" and though we may be divided, we (all people) are all called to rejoice as one.
“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed”- This line instantly makes me think of the creation story. God say that the earth was blanketed in darkness and confusion. He immediately said, "Let there be light," and light was shed onto the world. God did not want us to live in a dark land, and further understanding came when the glory of the Lord was revealed through Jesus.
I agree with Haley, the pieces all remind me of Christmas as well. They are very energetic and filled with excitement. I also felt that the music made me feel completely immersed in the experience. Immediately, I felt as if I was actually witnessing the concert and I think the music was very good at evoking this resonse from listeners.
ReplyDeleteMeagan's interpretations of the track titles is also an important thing to look at. The fact that each title is a phrase and can be seen as a message is very significant. I think that the titles really match the pieces. A person does not have to be Christian, to understand the connection. It is quite beautiful that something so simple adds another layer of depth to the music.
I agree that even though the Old Testament is referenced, Handel wrote the Messiah about Jesus. However, as Maria says, we can’t assume that definitely from the title, since the Jewish people are still waiting for the Messiah. I think the image of a light coming out of darkness is referring to Jesus. However, people are listening to these songs through the lenses of their religion. Jesus is the first thing most Christians think of when they hear these words, because of what we believe. Though we can see how it can be interpreted differently, Jesus will still, for the most part, be the first interpretation, for Christians.
ReplyDeleteLet me just start off by saying that listening to this music was truly a great experience! It was celebratory, uplifting, joyful, and so intricate, accordingly to its messianic message. I liked David's question; what if Isaiah were to listen to this music? If he were to make a musical composition, what would it be like? So curious...
ReplyDeleteBut in response to Gina, I feel as though we can't completely discredit the belief that Isaiah referred to King Hezekiah. I remember the chapter that Ms. Berry assigned my group Isaiah:53, and although the description alluded to a messianic figure, it was all written in the past tense, indicating that somebody already existed. I don't know how this places in the context of the other chapters/other beliefs, but it is something worth considering.
Just a note: while these are messianic, as almost everyone has said thus far, it seems to me that God could have seen these prophesies come into truth in Israel, but more fully in Jesus. Though just a possibility, the child in "for unto us a child was born" could be King Hezekiah and more fully Jesus. God could have so craftily fabricated history and the word of God to be answered in the Jewish tradition but truly fulfilled in the coming of Christ. This happens often between the Old and New Testament where something that occurs in the Old Testament comes to true fulfillment in the New. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus fulfills the Old Law by explaining and expanding it. In reference to the Messiah, Handel could have held this view when writing these pieces. In the least he wrote the Messiah for Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI believe all of these pieces convey a Messianic theme with different instruments, sounds and beauty in each piece. The piece “For unto us a child is born” is especially joyful and conveys a true sense of joy with the violins and soprano voices. Through either interpretation, the Jewish or Christian interpretation the music has a sense of joy and the coming of greatness. However I think all of the pieces are Messianic in a sense. Due to the fact that it was a Christian composer the meaning of the music is probably associated with the Messiah in the Christian faith, Jesus. The music is directed towards Biblical stories making it seem much more Christian than for another religion.
ReplyDeleteI believe all of these pieces convey a Messianic theme with different instruments, sounds and beauty in each piece. The piece “For unto us a child is born” is especially joyful and conveys a true sense of joy with the violins and soprano voices. Through either interpretation, the Jewish or Christian interpretation the music has a sense of joy and the coming of greatness. However I think all of the pieces are Messianic in a sense. Due to the fact that it was a Christian composer the meaning of the music is probably associated with the Messiah in the Christian faith, Jesus. The music is directed towards Biblical stories making it seem much more Christian than for another religion.
ReplyDeleteEven though most of us are probably biased by our own Christian beliefs that cause us to think the reference is messianic, that does not mean we are wrong. I think that the composers of these pieces of music clearly had the same bias, but that does not mean that the spiritual value of the music is at all diminished. Yes, to be theologically correct I believe we must include the Jewish perspective and even first look at it from that perspective. After all, these are Old Testament references and in context the part that King Hezekiah plays is more immediate, it is more related and important to the time being discussed. However, with the new understanding brought by Christianity, we have a new, broader interpretation of the same passages. We can read over them (or listen to pieces inspired by them) and think of how the passages might apply in ways that are more related and important for our time.
ReplyDeleteI agree that while the Messiah is derived from old testament scripture, the messianic message in this piece is referring to Jesus. It is interesting to consider the idea that some of the lyrics are relating to King Hezekiah (according to the Haggadah excerpts from the encyclopedia Judaica). But because Handel was Christian, and therefore would have believed in the coming of Jesus as the son of God, it is difficult for me to assume that he wasn't describing Jesus when he wrote the Messiah. In either case, the music is still beautiful.
ReplyDelete