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"Messiah," anyone?

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by rsr, Oct 25, 2002.

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  1. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    "Messiah" rehearsal begins Sunday here. Anyone else singing?
    [​IMG]
     
    #1 rsr, Oct 25, 2002
  2. Ruth

    Ruth Member
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    The musical my church is doing for Christmas this year has two pieces from the Messiah - "For Unto Us a Child is Born" and "Hallelujah Chorus". They are, however simplified versions, and I am having a terrible time trying to sing what is there compared to the Schirmer version!

    I have been fortunate enough to sing in a production of the Messiah three times (the full version once, the Christmas version twice). The one time I was in the full version, it was with a college choir and orchestra who invited area vocalists to perform with them, and had to be one of the most uplifting experiences I have ever had! Imagine about 50 glorious voices lifted in these praises to the Lord; it was an awe inspiring blessing to all. I don't expect to have that kind of feeling again - but I guarantee I will never forget it as long as I live.

    I wish I was singing with you this year!

    Ruth
     
    #2 Ruth, Oct 25, 2002
  3. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Come on down, Ruth; it's not that far. And it's to die for.
    [​IMG]

    Every year we have the chorus (I guess about 100 people), soloists and an orchestra. (The guy who plays "The trumpet shall sound" uses a Bach trumpet, and it's exquisite.)

    I've done this, I guess, about a dozen years. We don't do a "Christmas version," although we can't -- because of orchestra rehearsal time -- do the entire work. We go from "Every valley" to "All we like sheep" to "Amen."

    This year's choruses:

    And the Glory of the Lord
    For unto us a Child is born
    Glory to God (a tenor's favorite)
    His yoke is easy
    Behold the Lamb of God
    And with His stripes we are healed
    All we like sheep
    Lift up your heads
    Hallelujah (of course)
    Since by man came death
    Worthy is the Lamb/Amen (Handel had a wicked sense of humor, putting that "A" on the last page and insisting the tenors start on that note for the last major run.)

    [ October 25, 2002, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: rsr ]
     
    #3 rsr, Oct 25, 2002
  4. Pete

    Pete New Member

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    rsr, mate, if I was good enough to do that I'ld be off somewhere doing it instead of sitting on computer all night :D

    If I could sing AT ALL I'ld probably still be off doing it somewhere [​IMG]

    Pete
     
    #4 Pete, Oct 26, 2002
  5. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    There is NOTHING to compare to the quality and message of The Messiah. I am envious (in a spiritual sense) of any who can sing this great oratorio!

    I sang it all four years in college with 150+ voices, harpsichord and orchestra. We'd get up and practice 50 minutes BEFORE breakfast every day until the performance. 6 am in a Minnesota winter . . .

    And the bride sang the soprano solo, with the college president's wife who sang the contralto solo (He Shall Feed His Flock/Come Unto Me for those who know).
     
    #5 Dr. Bob, Oct 28, 2002
  6. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    I love "Messiah", too!! Have sung it numerous time and have the sung the soprano solos as well. Our church out here in the country only does "Southern Gospel" so any oratorio would be quite a stretch. I miss sing "real" music!! I am going to be singing the soprano solos in Benjamin Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" in New Orleans, though, and I am so thrilled! All we sing around here lately is "the Wheels on the Bus", "Bumpin' along in a little red wagon", and stuff like that!! [​IMG] But I LOVE that too!
    Tater
     
    #6 TaterTot, Oct 28, 2002
  7. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Good for you, Tater.

    I've never had the guts to try to become a soloist, but every year I sing "Every Valley" to myself, and I've sung in the semi-chorus for "Lif up your heads."

    And why did the basses luck out with "The Trumpet Shall Sound?"

    There are many good "Messiah" sites, but this is one of the better ones and includes MIDI files:

    http://www.ao.net/~jmo/john/music/handel.html

    Dr. Bob: The double aria you mentioned is among my favorites, along with "Every valley" and "The trumpet shall sound."
     
    #7 rsr, Oct 28, 2002
  8. Ruth

    Ruth Member
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    If I thought that my choir director wouldn't kill me for doing it, I would love to come down and sing with you in Oklahoma! I do have family in the state, but not in that part. Sigh...........

    And I too live in an area where "country gospel" is considered THE music to be singing. Every few years I have a chance to join a "real" choir singing "real" music, and it thrills my soul when those times happen!

    You know, so many of the songs we do are just as technically difficult as those in the Messiah - but people don't seem to realize it. They just automatically become terrified when you bring up doing something classical, and I don't think they realize what they are missing by not doing this wonderful music.

    Ruth
     
    #8 Ruth, Oct 29, 2002
  9. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Mee Mee Mee!

    We're rehearsing Messiah right now.

    *snip reference to sodomy*

    [I can't believe I missed this one. :mad: It was not amusing, and you should be ashamed.

    Aaron]

    [ November 07, 2002, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: Aaron ]
     
    #9 Johnv, Oct 29, 2002
  10. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    ACK! Johnv, you should really feel sheepish about bringing that up.

    "All we like sheep" is one of my favorites. The music is light and playful (speaking of technically difficult, it's hard to imagine how Handel could get that many syllables out of 'turned,) and then the hammer comes down with "and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Great effect.
     
    #10 rsr, Oct 30, 2002
  11. Cindy

    Cindy <img src=/Cindy.JPG>

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    Wow, I'm envious of those of you who are singing The Messiah! I've sung excerpts before (love the alto part runs in "For Unto Us A Child is Born!),but never the entire thing.

    A church in my town...some big mainline denomination church, I think...puts it on every year, and the general public is invited to sing in it. I never have had enough time. :( Maybe someday!

    Hearing a good choir sing "The Hallelujah Chorus" is one of the most stirring things one can experience this side of Heaven, I'm convinced. Singing it? Even better,I'm sure.
     
    #11 Cindy, Nov 7, 2002
  12. Bro. Curtis

    Bro. Curtis <img src =/curtis.gif>
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    Sang it the first time at the young age of 14. I auditioned, and got a bass part in a 200 voice choir. That was 1975 :eek:

    We have a very small church, so it's not likely we will be performing it.

    I'll get the LP out.
     
    #12 Bro. Curtis, Nov 8, 2002
  13. Karen

    Karen Active Member

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    The "Hallelujah Chorus", isn't that one of those repetitive one-word choruses we all like to dislike? I mean, listen to the words: "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah...." ;) ;)

    Seriously, I listen to "The Messiah" on several great recordings and have heard many partial presentations. Wish I had the voice to be in one.

    Karen
     
    #13 Karen, Nov 9, 2002
  14. Grace

    Grace New Member

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    I've sung in the full thing once, also with a college choir. But, instead of 50 voices, it was more like 200 voices. I really enjoyed it, even if it was some of the hardest music I have sung. Actually, it was good for me. It really helped my "fright reading" skills. We learned the whole thing in 13 weeks. Our director sang the bass solos. He was incredible. The soprano was good. The alto was good. The tenor thought he was good..he was very much in love with the sound of his voice. I shouldn't say that, but he treated us badly because we were "just the choir" and not the all powerful soloist. (Sorry...I should probably backspace and delete that...but I"m having to delete too much already because I'm trying to watch football and type at the same time)
     
    #14 Grace, Nov 9, 2002
  15. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    In Wales, where I went to school, Gwlad y gan, where everyone sings, with my voice, I got to pump the organ.

    Love Handel's Messiah. When I was going to seminary in Toronto, a member of a church supplied two tickets to each student, to attend the production of Messiah. I have not missed a production, somewhere, since.

    By the way, wife even winds the windows up in the car when I sing. She doesn't want anyone to hear it and panic.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #15 Jim1999, Nov 9, 2002
  16. Pete

    Pete New Member

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    heh heh

    No. It is nothing at all like them.

    1: It is taken mostly word for word from the Bible (Revelation 19:6, 11:15, 19:16)

    1b: But not just any Bible, the KJV...meaning even KJVonlyists love it...and some of the rest of us do too ;)

    1c: As such, it is hard to imagine the song being sung to your girlfriend (especially the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords...And He shall reign..." lines...). Even with these masculine terms (King/He) it probably still wouldn't be used for boyfriend either.. ;)

    1d: It even mentions God "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (not like a lot of &lt;parody&gt; "You are so cool, You came for fools, so we can swim in Your pool..." &lt;/parody&gt; style of song of today ;) )

    2: It even has music... ;)

    3: The only bad part is it is now public domain and can be used to advertise cars, football, beer, etc etc.... :mad: Maybe copyright does have its good points...

    Pete :D
     
    #16 Pete, Nov 11, 2002
  17. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    UPDATE:

    For those of you who are singing in "Messiah" this year, how is it going? When will you be singing for the public?
     
    #17 rsr, Nov 23, 2002
  18. RebelBaptist

    RebelBaptist New Member

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    Jim,

    I'd be curious to find out if your Anglican Church will be doing "Nine Lessons and Carols" for Advent.

    When I lived in Vancouver, my good friend Bruce took me to St. John's (in Shaughnessy) Anglican Church, and they had this service. It was wonderful! I can still hear the music from it in my mind. I would love to experience that once again.

    From the Southland,
    Rebel [&gt;&lt;]
     
    #18 RebelBaptist, Nov 26, 2002
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