Say Unto the Cities of Judah Re: Yo! JM RE: Handle's Messiah
Just Me
On Dec 27, 7:49 am, "Koolchi...@smurfsareus.xxx"
<john.kulczy...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Please tell me that this is not the first time you've been introduced
> to Handle's Messiah.
Migod. If there can be the least good in my replying to such an
indecent suggestion as that, I can't imagine it. What? even at
outrageous expense of putting tonight's BBC orgy of Absolutely
Fabulous re-runs on mute? But now you have pushed my button royally.
First time? Dear boy, I was practically there on April 13, 1742 for
the original performance in Dublin, but as to the look of the bill
there at Neal's Music Hall on Fishamble Street, the name of the
composer was spelled "Handel" NOT (for godsakes) "Handle"! DO you
have any idea to WHOM thou art addressing thyself, sir?
But as to a more recent first experience of Handel from this present
boring lifetime, this time around the Wheel of Karma, I well remember
the day in 1959 when Mother came home from work bearing this . . .
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KVYQ7G2AL._SS500_.jpg
. . . to play on our big, brand new brazenly blonde Motorola Hi-Fi.
And though it took some time, that gift to my musical education was to
become a revelation to me. As it is with most youngsters of 13, the
operatic voice was the last thing for which I held the least
appreciation--except as the offence of all that muscular, diaphragm
driven vibrato would be smoothed out in chorus. I would quite surprise
myself as more and more often I would be pulling the 45 rpm spindle
off the turntable, to put that long-hair looking London LP on
specifically to listen to the choruses.
But then, over more time, the melodies of a few arias had begun to
entice something heretofore unknown in me, much as I had to grit my
teeth and bear down to tolerate the terribly 'square' adult tone of
the voices that were carrying those ethereal themes. Then one day I
happened to come by a free ticket to La Traviata to be performed by a
travelling troupe from the Met, and as it was such a wonderful excuse
to be getting out, away from the books and homework on a week-night, I
put on my suit and tie, shined my shoes and went for the first time in
my life to the Opera. Though it was still mainly the choruses that
moved me, there were a few moments when I was able to let down my
guard long enough to experience, even to a point of tears the awesome
glories of one particularly pure soprano aria. Along with Handel,
Verdi remains closest to my heart when it comes to composers of
serious vocal music. But then of course the exceptions from Mozart's D
minor mass and Beethoven's Ninth start messing with my list of first
loves.
>
> It is one of the longest running earworms in history.
I think I just heard George Frideric turning over in his gr -- on his
cloud . . . "earworms"? Oy. Can I find something with which to get a
long enough "Handel" on that?
>
> get yourself this CD set, as it is one of the best recordings I've
> listened to.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Handel-Messiah-Reynolds-Langridge-Marriner/dp/B...
From the Covent Garden manuscript, I see. Well, well. I believe that's
the one that drove George II to his feet, during the Halleluyah
chorus? One version has it that he was strictly rising to royal
protocol, as one must always do in presence of the king, in this case,
the king's King, the very Lord God Omnipotent whose Omnipresence he
sensed so totally reigning there in that music. Yes, I would like to
hear that performance, most particularly because Neville Marriner is
so impressive, as is quite clear from this, again with the chorus of
St Martin in the Fields . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11xABcKjux8&feature=related
Another Messiah I'll soon be hearing is this . . .
It is a live performance from the most original manuscript of all,
from the Autograph copy as it stood while the ink was yet wet, and the
teardrops still undried on the Master's desk in 1741, even before the
Premiere in Dublin.
--
JM http://mackiemesser.zoomshare.com
john.ku...@sympatico.ca
bearing this . . . to play on our big, brand new brazenly blonde
Motorola Hi-Fi. "
And you claim she was a Scot?