The Messiah
Category: General
After a wonderful sermon, great food and good fellowship at the Pastor's house (just like every sabbath afternoon) a large handful of us from DCC went to a free perfomance of Handel's Messiah at the Holland Performing Arts Center.
First of all, the Holland Performing Arts Center is a spectacular facility. It was only built a few years ago, and this was the first time I had ever been inside of it. (I had driven past it many times, but I never realized that it was the Holland center, as it does not look like your typical concert hall from the outside.)
For some reason we all sat at the very front so that we were only a few feet away from the stage. This was especially strange as the soloists walked out on stage and sat down directly opposite us. Of course It didn't help that their Bass soloist looked precisely like a bald version of my good friend Jonathan Boulden. (I whispered this to my brother Abe and he couldn't stop cracking up at the beginning of the performance.) Good times. Perhaps Jonathan should consider shaving off his famously spiky hair-do.
As for the perfomance quality...it was top-notch. There was over about a 150 (mostly elderly) volunteer choir members and they did a tremendous job...especially considering they only had 6 weeks to practice! This reminded me of the time that I joined a volunteer choir in Hawaii to sing the Messiah one Christmas. What a great time! But what a struggle as well...
I was sorrounded by (mostly elderly) volunteers that appeared to have been singing the Messiah since long before I was born. I was the second youngest member in the choir (Charlotte Smythe was the youngest, and as far as I could tell she did a fine job...of course I don't think I could discern her voice very well amidst all of the exhuberabt tenors!) The first few weeks I just kind of mouthed my way along...expecially when it came to all of those crazy runs. Of course "Ed", the Tenor next to me, didn't help very much. "Ed" was a counselor at the Community College that I attended. He was very...different. (One time we were talking about spiritual matters and he said: "at Christmas-time my religion is Christianity, but it changes throughout the year." Ed had even created a religious practice of his own that included chanting hindu phrases while bobbing up and down in the ocean.) It never seemed like Ed ever really hit the right notes, but he was one of those guys that thinks he's hitting the right notes all the time. I especially remember how he would squeek to hit the words: "upON thEE!!!" in one of the songs. What a gem!
The main difference between the performance last night and my old performance at Central Union Church in Hawaii, was that yesterday the ENTIRE Messiah was perfomed, whereas in Hawaii we just did the Christmas portion and the Hallelujah chorus. I now realize why we did it that way in Hawaii...
Now, don't get me wrong, I like Handel and I like his Messiah (and I like the real Messiah most of all!) but the truth is...it's a little long...and very repetitive. I couldn't help but think, especially during the 3rd and 4th sections, that Handel could have easily condensed the entire Messiah into a few really good songs. Good songs that have more than, say, ONE line to them. Sure there is a place for meditation and musicality, but there comes a point when the phrase, "and he shall purify the sons of levi" begins to lose it's impact. Of course, I love all of the words in the Messiah, (I mean, it's all scripture right?) but perhaps it could be condensed for optimum impact?
It is said that Handel composed the Messiah in only 24 days...perhaps that shouldn't be such a selling point!
For example: In the third act, I believe, there was this portion that focused on the mistreatment of our Lord before his crucifixion. In it, Handel quoted some of the most powerful words of scripture (in my estimation) from Isaiah 53. However, the dark and powerful verses were juxtaposed with a light and happy tune, that was reminiscent of...most of the music in the Messiah. (With many exceptions of course) There was even a part that talked about Jesus' hair being plucked out and his face being spat upon...however, the music was so comical and the lady singing was so overly dramatic that I actually began to chuckle...and then caught myself. I should never be tempted to chuckle at the horrendous suffering of our Messiah. I wish Handel had thought some of those elements through a little better.
This all being said, for the most part, I think that the Messiah is very powerful and very wonderful (Especially the first act and the Hallelujah chorus!) In Hawaii, the entire performance led up to the Hallelujah chorus, where the entire audience stood to join the ensemble. Very gripping. In yesterday's show, we all stood for the chorus, but it was anti-climacticly placed in the middle of the performance. Of course there was some real gems after the Chorus, that I will have to look up and listen to. (And there was a beautiful climax at the end with this chorus of "Amen's"...beautiful!)
I guess what I'm saying is this:
Handel's Messiah was good... our Messiah is better.
If Handel helps you to see the Messiah better, go see his Messiah. And afterwards... grab a Bible and look up all of the breathtaking old testament prophecies that he put to music. Read Isaiah 53 and remember...it was written hundreds of years before Christ's birth! Then repent...and believe the gospel.
Comments
Add a Comment