Handel 2009

What Messiah Means to Me...Contributions 2009

'My best Handel memory comes from a choir camp in the 1990s. I was a music director and for the camp's 10th anniversary I wanted to teach the children, aged 8 - 14, something special, a piece that they could sing and remember singing throughout their lives. After some consideration I decided that the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah would be just the piece. The children were astounded - WE are going to sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" ??  With almost 4 hours of rehearsal/day for 5 days, the shores of the St Lawrence River near Cornwall in Canada echoed the soprano and alto phrases of Handel's famous chorus. My church choir sang with the children at the closing service to fill out the parts. After singing the other pieces that we had learned the service closed with the great "Hallelujah", the voices clear and true, eyes shining with joy and pride in accomplishment. Handel never knew that his chorus would ring out over the St Lawrence River and I will never hear it sung that way again. Thank you, Herr Handel, for the music and the memory. '
Heather Rice, Canada


'I now perform Messiah every December.  It is the one event on the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra's annual schedule which I truly look forward to every year.  It uplifts me in ways that no other piece of music can.  Now that I have performed this many times I enjoy the familiarity it brings, the evocative writing and the vitality.  I love the way it makes me feel for days before and after performing it.

I love all of Messiah and it is almost impossible to single out one favourite but I particularly enjoy playing “Why do the Nations” . I love the althleticism required from the voice in this and think it would work really well as a bassoon solo!

We used, on more than one occasion, a countertenor and I think this is far more successful than a woman’s voice. It adds so much more edge and clarity and frankly I prefer to hear it this way now.

We perform this every Christmas, though my dream job would be to play it as many times as possible in a year until I got sick of it, which would be never!'
Selena Orwin (bassoonist), Christchurch, New Zealand

"First memory and impressions of Messiah:
'Walking in single file between the music stands of the orchestra fitted between the choir stalls of our Parish Church as an eight year old choirboy before singing my first public performance. Impression: overpowering, fabulous, exhilarating!'

What part has it played in your life?
'After that first performance I  was presented with my own vocal score with gilt initials on the front cover. It is still in use (with care to keep the loose pages in the right places). It has been the foundation of my whole musical experience, and influenced the direction of my life.'

'When voting for the favourite items of classical music on Classic FM is announced, I usually think Messiah is beyond the top position; therefore the top item voted 'number one' can only really be number two to Messiah! I could not choose one number from Messiah as my favourite, there are many and for various reasons.

My favourite recording is of: The Trinity Choir Church and Orchestra, Wall Street, New York City (Naxos). I know most or all the four parts from Treble as boy, through Alto when the voice broke and Tenor as it settled, and hearing the Bass as my father rehearsed his part at home. Then rejoicing in my children singing it with me and others.

Two special occasions were when my son, as a Treble, made a recording of 'He shall feed his flock'; and on the 250th anniversary of Handel's death, we held a Parish Come-and-Sing in the Vicarage, and about twenty people sang through the work sharing the solos, and accompanied at the piano by Dr. J.B. Dalby, formerly Organist of St. Hachar's Catherdral, Aberdeen, and holder of an important office with the National Youth Orchestra.'"
Reverend Richard Masheder, Lancashire, England.

Handel House Museum at 25 Brook Street will be at the heart of the Handel celebrations this year. This landmark address is where Handel lived for thirty-six years of his life and where he died on 14 April 1759.