"Messiah" is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel. The text was compiled from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter by Charles Jennens. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere a year later. (Wikipedia)
So, 285 years ago, Handel wrote his Oratorio in the high Baroque style. Small string orchestra, a few color instruments (trumpets, organ, timpani), and continuo (harpsichord and bass viol). The chorus was small, too, likely no more than 20-30 singers. And the vocal soloists chosen were required to sing all of the flourishes in more of an Operatic style than the typical Church soloist style (also including women singers, not castrati).
Gates of Paradise at the Baptistry in Florence, Italy Last night I got to attend a wonderful Performance of the Easter section of "Messiah." The performance space was comparatively small, it was the lobby of the Museum of Art on Brigham Young University campus. The man who pushed for this to happen, had a dream one night of how this could and should happen. He contacted the MOA and found that they would love to host the event in conjunction with some art displays that would be unveiled at the same time, just before Easter. (The reproduction of Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise was spectacular!)
Alex Woods pulled together players and singers to form a string quartet, continuo, organ and soloists from his professor and student friends at BYU and the Orchestra of Ballet West who all volunteered their time. (We came particularly to hear my nephew Dr. Randy Lee play trumpet. He was fabulous!) Dr. Woods decided that the elite choir he envisioned for this concert would be the audience. We audience members of about 250 were delighted to provide!
The selections on the program were not the typical pieces chosen for a "Messiah Sing-In" done at Christmastime. These were the songs and choruses having to do with the Savior's Passion. Powerful. It helped that these musicians were experts in their disciplines. The music was superb. We singers in the audience felt honored to be able to sing with such knowledgeable musicians who also invited the Spirit into their performances.
Alex Woods pulled together players and singers to form a string quartet, continuo, organ and soloists from his professor and student friends at BYU and the Orchestra of Ballet West who all volunteered their time. (We came particularly to hear my nephew Dr. Randy Lee play trumpet. He was fabulous!) Dr. Woods decided that the elite choir he envisioned for this concert would be the audience. We audience members of about 250 were delighted to provide!
The selections on the program were not the typical pieces chosen for a "Messiah Sing-In" done at Christmastime. These were the songs and choruses having to do with the Savior's Passion. Powerful. It helped that these musicians were experts in their disciplines. The music was superb. We singers in the audience felt honored to be able to sing with such knowledgeable musicians who also invited the Spirit into their performances.
There is no secret about the fact that singing "Handel's Messiah" requires some very athletic singing. The melismas done at a rather fast clip were challenging to sing. But SO FUN!!!!! (It helps when you have most of the music memorized.) My voice teacher in college used to tell me to sing "Rejoice Greatly" (a soprano solo from "Messiah") every day if I really wanted to keep up my voice. Well, I haven't remembered to do that, but I have been privileged within the last few months to sing "Messiah" at Christmas with the Wasatch Choral, the TSO and Dr. Doug Pew, and now again for Easter with Dr. Alex Woods and our elite chorus of devoted audience singers.
So satisfying for the soul and great for the voice!
So satisfying for the soul and great for the voice!
RSS Feed