tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302167803066647957.post4537423059060671388..comments2015-12-13T17:57:22.587-06:00Comments on Choral Confessions: Handel's MessiahLorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11985687409177249888noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302167803066647957.post-3562748632693508902011-02-16T08:30:54.054-06:002011-02-16T08:30:54.054-06:00Caroline, I agree. That "blood" was har...Caroline, I agree. That "blood" was hard to spit out but so effective. Choristers from that performance still talk about it. <br />BTW, do you come back to these posts to see if there are new comments. Email me to let me know if you even read this. I am not sure if I should respond to people here or via email.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11985687409177249888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302167803066647957.post-27485051275235796022011-02-14T10:07:32.747-06:002011-02-14T10:07:32.747-06:00That 2008 performance of Messiah is memorable. It ...That 2008 performance of Messiah is memorable. It beats all before and so far after.<br />Just adding to what you wrote, those sheep were definitely not the same sheep, one really felt sheepish, wanting to hide. What about "Worthy is the lamb that was SLAIN....by His BLOOD!!!" That was powerful I can still hear that BLUNT, sharp, "SLAIN" "BLOOD" I got shivers and not good ones. Thank goodness for the glorious following redemption. Sometimes you think that ending Chorus just goes on too long, but I wanted it to go on forever and ever and ever. Blessing and honour, glory and power be unto Him. That was an amazing (I mean amazing, not the overused N.American way) truly amazing performance. So glad I could be there for it and sit with the lovely Natasha, that was a real treat sharing the evening with her.Frau Cabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17334458280027621286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302167803066647957.post-40339593174983744172011-02-07T14:24:44.449-06:002011-02-07T14:24:44.449-06:00Ack! I'm behind on so many posts!!
Oh Lori ....Ack! I'm behind on so many posts!!<br /><br />Oh Lori . . you are a good writer. But we all know that already. Sigh.<br /><br />Okay, I have a few personal things to add.<br /><br />1. On Christmas morning, Dale and I were in the kitchen making waffles. CBC radio was broadcasting a live, Handel's Messiah. It was heaven. After a bit, I just couldn't help myself, and I was singing along. My kids looked at me like I'd just landed from Mars. Then they got this big grin on their faces and begged for more. So I delivered on all the solos, etc (as much as I knew, anyway). Now they always ask me to sing 'Handel's Messiah'. So funny.<br /><br />2. During my Art class at school I let the kids pick some music (classical, world, jazz . . b/c they don't really listen to that . . . ever!) to listen to while they create. So this last week of the girls picked 'Classical Kids' story of the The Magic Flute. They all looked at me with these weird grins. "What??? We have to listen to opera!". When I started singing (or rather botching) the Queen of the Night aria, they just howled. I think they reluctantly left the CD in, just in case their teacher made another fool of herself. I am always amazed and inspired by children's reaction to classical pieces. <br /><br />3. I don't have a lot of classical or choral stuff in my collection. Any suggestions for 'must haves'? I'm particularly looking for stuff the kids would enjoy in the van or at school.Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04580969645489467974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302167803066647957.post-54659744663830479022011-01-13T12:28:48.075-06:002011-01-13T12:28:48.075-06:00Thank you so much for the comments. As far as I k...Thank you so much for the comments. As far as I know Handel was always a relatively fast worker, but the Messiah was very quick. He composed it in the 3 weeks, and it is a large work, without ever leaving his room. His servant would bring him meals but they were often left uneaten. While writing the "Hallelujah", his servant discovered him with tears in his eyes. Handel said, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself!!" <br />So the divine was certainly involved in the composition as far as Handel himself reports.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11985687409177249888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302167803066647957.post-42899545800640045852011-01-12T17:16:18.894-06:002011-01-12T17:16:18.894-06:00Thanks for the inside view. I have likely little ...Thanks for the inside view. I have likely little to add, but I will try.<br /><br />Having recently attended Handel's Messiah in San Francisco, I read the history of it and a few things impressed me. I find it difficult not to see divine intervention. In short, and apologize if you already know all this, but shortly before he wrote the music for Messiah, Handel was sick and about to go to debtors prison for not paying his bills. A friend of his had arranged different Bible versus together and the way it was assembled so touched Handel, that he locked himself in a room for 3 weeks, and created 240 pages of music to the words. Some have called "Messiah" the greatest accomplishment in music history due to the beauty and speed of its creation. A year later, the profits from its performance enabled Handel to not only avoid debtors prison, but he freed over 100 people from debtros prison, and in the future donations have given it the acclaim of the most charitable oratorio of all time.Karlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06523460535622859924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5302167803066647957.post-60736773306725788432011-01-11T07:28:58.809-06:002011-01-11T07:28:58.809-06:00Thank-you, Lori for that insight into "The Me...Thank-you, Lori for that insight into "The Messiah"....one of my favourite pieces as well. I love to hear how much of yourself you pour into your singing .... I am impressed...and proud of you!!<br /><br />FriedaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com