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Insights into Handel’s Messiah and American Festival Chorus’ performance of the Messiah
Insights into Handel’s Messiah
and American Festival Chorus‘
performance of the Messiah
The American Festival Chorus will be performing Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kent Concert Hall at USU. Follow this link for the Concert information on a separate blog post: http://bit.ly/GL6mYY
This blog post contains insights into Handel’s Messiah as well as insights into American Festival Chorus’ preparation and performance of our Messiah concert.
Update April 16, 2012:
The following are thoughts and comments from Brenda Poulsen, a member of American Festival Chorus.
I have sung Messiah probably 6 or 8 times and each time I am amazed at how such a masterful piece was written in such a short time. The spiritual guidance that Handel must have felt would have to have been such an uplift for him.
I truly believe it is a work that was inspired by our Father. How could it not be? Hearing it, performing it, seeing it, is inspiring and engaging for all ages. The story of the life of Christ can be understood by all.
The thing that I find most exciting about our upcoming performance is that the theatrical signers will be with us. I have been in performances with them before and i can tell you they bring a magic and a spirit that is like no other.
My absolute favorite part is during the “Amens” at the end. Dr. Freeman King performs the whole life of Christ in those few amazing bars of music. It is a powerful performance and it really brings a scene to mind. A small glimpse of what our Father and Handel maybe were trying to portray through this musical work. The tragedy and triumph of the Son of God.
You will not want to miss this performance. Dr. Jessop’s insights and interpretation of this work is amazing. The orchestra will be nothing short of fantastic and the theatrical signers, again will bring a new spirit to this piece for everyone who attends.
Update April 13, 2012:
Besides playing the piano and organ while young, Handel also played the oboe and violin. When Handel moved from Germany to England, King George I was his financial supporter. As time passed, less people would attend performances of his operas and he fell into debt. At the time Handel was asked by Charles Jennings to compose the Messiah, Handel’s mother had recently passed away and he was suffering from rheumatism. Handel’s score for the Messiah was over 300 pages in length. While composing the Messiah, Handel would often go without sleep and without food. In one occurrence, one of his servants found Handel asleep with his head on the score with tears on his cheeks, likely due to the power of the music he was composing.
In the Messiah, the overture ends on a minor chord suggesting something ominous is about to happen. However the next chord at the beginning of the tenor solo “Comfort Ye” is major suggesting we should feel comforted. The first bass solo “But Who May Abide the Day Of His Coming, For He is Like a Refiner’s Fire” indicates that with our sins, we will not be able to stand before Jesus Christ when he returns to the earth.
Update April 11, 2012:
Most of us associate Handel’s Messiah with Christmas. But, in fact, Handel did not write the Messiah as a Christmas music piece. If you pay attention to the words of the Messiah in the libretto (the text of the music), you’ll see that only the first part of the composition has to do with the birth of Jesus. The second and third parts focus on his death, resurrection, the sending of the Spirit at Pentecost, and the final resurrection of all believers. Also, the original performances of the Messiah happened around Easter time or Lent and not around Christmas. For this reason, much of the Messiah is less well-known due to eliminating many of the choruses and arias from the second and third parts that don’t tie in well to Christmas. It is my belief that Dr. Craig Jessop had the desire to perform these choruses that are often forgotten.
Although all of the lyrics of the Messiah are taken from the Bible, you may be surprised to realize that most of the text comes from revelations given in the Old Testament and only a little text from the New Testament. The “For unto us” movement has text taken from the book of Isaiah and not the book of Luke.
Update April 6, 2012:
Mozart took Handel’s Messiah and re-orchestrated it in 1789. Originally, Handel’s performances of the Messiah had fifteen violins, five violas, three cellos, two double-basses, four bassoons, four oboes, two trumpets, two horns and drums. The original performances also had only around 19 chorus members. Although other composers rearranged the Messiah and put on larger performances, it is Mozart who became known for adapting the Messiah for much larger scale performances than what Handel had done. Some of the proceeding performances had up to 250 instruments in the orchestra. Post-Mozart performances were also known to reach a number of 2000 singers. Mozart also eliminated the part of the organ and added parts for flutes, clarinets, trombones and horns.
Update April 5, 2012:
Handel gave an annual benefit concert for London’s Foundling Hospital which always included the Messiah. This hospital was a place for orphaned and abandoned children. This was known as Handel’s favorite charity.
In 1759, Handel was blind and in bad health. He still found a way to attend a performance of the Messiah at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden on April 6. Handel died in his own home eight days after this performance.
Update April 5, 2012:
I’ve noticed a few people finding this blog looking for information of the Messiah being performed at the Tabernacle here in Logan, Utah. Dr. John Ribera has conducted this the past seven years, but will not be doing it this year, nor in the foreseeable future. I had a conversation with him yesterday evening. Part of the reason he put on the performance of the Messiah every year was the joint effort of American Sign Language (ASL) theatrical performers which would put on an ASL theatrical performance along with the Messiah every year. This year this group of ASL theatrical performers will be performing with us, the American Festival Chorus. And it appears that these performers will not be joining John Ribera in other years. Dr. Ribera said he has loved putting on this performance every year, but it was very taxing on his family as it took much time and effort. He is fully dedicated to his duties on the American Festival Chorus Board now. We appreciate his dedication and support.
I would imagine that there may still be community sing-alongs of the Messiah around Christmas time. I, myself, do not have any details or information about any such events. If you do get word of any, please let me know, as I would love to participate in them in the future. I hope this answers some questions that some of my blog viewers may have. Please come support the American Festival Chorus in our performance of the Messiah on April 21st!
Update April 4, 2012:
The Messiah premiered in Dublin, partly because of the bad reception Handel had received from London residents while composing the piece. Dublin was also a growing city that was trying to edge its way into relevance. Dublin residents strove to display the “sophistication” of the city to Europeans. Handel believed there would be less critics in Dublin and he could try his work out prior to bringing it back to London. The Messiah was very successful in Dublin, and it’s success was echoed in the London debut.
Update April 2, 2012:
A few Houston Symphony Choir members shared their thoughts of performing the Messiah in December 2010. They describe the joy of approaching the Messiah a different way each time it is performed. New conductors will change styles and will have new insights. HSC members describe how they never get tired of performing the Messiah. They also discuss the malismas in the Messiah and the many notes they have written in their Messiah scores over the years.
Links to their comments:
http://bit.ly/HQdwwY
http://bit.ly/HQfo9d
Update March 29, 2012:
Handel composed his first opera, Almira, by the age of 18. This work was first perform in Hamburg in 1705.
Handel’s father originally wanted him to study Law until a friend of Handel’s father heard Handel playing the organ and suggested he pursue music.
The majority of Handel’s works were operas since they were the method of bringing in money during the late 17th and early 18th century.
It took Handel roughly 3 to 4 weeks to compose the Messiah in 1741.
Update March 28, 2012:
Here is a link to the official Poster for this concert: http://bit.ly/H0Ub89
As part of the performance of the Messiah, we are also celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) on the USU campus, and we will have some ASL theatrical performers for the Deaf, interpreting the Messiah. This will be a special event!
Here is some commentary from an American Festival Chorus member, Dianne Liebes, about her experience singing with these theatrical interpreters:
Update March 27, 2012:
Handel’s Messiah was originally performed at Easter time on April 13, 1742, as the American Festival Chorus is doing on April 21.
Most of Handel’s other works feature the soloists and only have limited movements by the chorus. But Handel’s Messiah uses the chorus as the main feature of the work. Being such, Dr. Craig Jessop has cut down on the solos that will be performed on April 21 and replaced them with some of the less-well-known choruses such as “His Yoke Is Easy and His Burthen Is Light”, “Behold The Lamb of God”, “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs”, “And With His Stripes We Are Healed”, “He Trusted In God That He Would Deliver Him”, “Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands”, “Since by Man Came Death”, and “Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain”
Ben Burt Sings 