Messiah, Part One Sunday, December 10
Messiah
I did think I did see all heaven before me and the great God Himself. Handel.
Composer George Frideric Handel was experiencing a low spot in his career in England. Music critics of 1741 were often just as harsh then as they are in the present century, and the public was certainly no less demanding in their tastes and preferences in music. When a friend approached Handel about composing an oratorio based upon a compilation of scriptures he had arranged, Handel reluctantly agreed. The result of his twenty-four day burst of inspiration and almost non-stop writing produced his immortal Messiah, quite possibly the most renowned religious musical composition the world has ever known.
Although initially more closely associated with Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, today Messiah is most often performed in concerts and as worship music during the season of Christmas. This most famous and most performed of Handel’s oratorios, like all oratorios, is divided into three grand sections, each comprised of recitatives, arias and choruses. These sections represent the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The oratorio, an extended musical drama with a text based on religious subject matter, in essence tells of the life, ministry, sacrifice and victory over death. Christians are assured of this same victory over death when they trust in Jesus to forgive them of their sins, putting their faith and trust in Him for daily living and eternal life.
In many respects, Messiah is the oratorio for the masses. From earliest performances, amateur singers were blended with professional choirs to create huge groups of singers numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. This tradition continues today, with Messiah sing-alongs popular in many communities around the world, as singers of all kinds bring their copies of the score and unite in one gigantic chorus of worship and praise, accompanied by organs and orchestras. To experience or participate in such a performance is to greatly enhance one’s celebration of the nativity, the birth of the Savior.
The Chancel choir will present Messiah, Part One, on Sunday, December 10 at the 11:00 AM worship service, featuring guest soloists, friends of the choir, and chamber orchestra.
We hope our performance of Handel’s Messiah will add immeasurably to your own celebration of Christmas as it reminds us all that the gift of salvation is not for a time or a season, but for eternity. Thank you for sharing this moment with us.
In many respects, Messiah is the oratorio for the masses. From earliest performances, amateur singers were blended with professional choirs to create huge groups of singers numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. This tradition continues today, with Messiah sing-alongs popular in many communities around the world, as singers of all kinds bring their copies of the score and unite in one gigantic chorus of worship and praise, accompanied by organs and orchestras. To experience or participate in such a performance is to greatly enhance one’s celebration of the nativity, the birth of the Savior.
The Chancel choir will present Messiah, Part One, on Sunday, December 10 at the 11:00 AM worship service, featuring guest soloists, friends of the choir, and chamber orchestra.
We hope our performance of Handel’s Messiah will add immeasurably to your own celebration of Christmas as it reminds us all that the gift of salvation is not for a time or a season, but for eternity. Thank you for sharing this moment with us.
