Handel 2009

Messiah Memory Bank 2005

What Messiah Means to Me...Visitor Contributions

An appreciation of the genius of a great composer! As a music major in college, I studied the complete Messiah work and became excited about the intricate lines and magnificent harmonies. How wonderful to study something so simple yet so difficult to perform! It is a challenge to sing and play but much more to conduct. So much emotion is expressed throughout. Joy, pleasure, sadness… many intense moments. Thank you for preserving the life of Handel. I hope many more people visit and become fascinated with one of the greatest composers who ever lived!
Lee-Ann Kraczowski, Canada

Choir is an important part of my school, and over 70% of the students of HB Woodlawn are involved in music. I am enrolled in Advanced Placement Music theory, and sing in all three of the high school choirs. Every winter on the last day before winter break, all the choir classes get scores of the Messiah, and everyone sings the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. It’s a tradition to express the joy of the season and the unity of the students. Music greatly impacts and enriches lives, and Handel’s Messiah is a prime example.
Jan Winchell, Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A.

Handel wrote several lovely oboe concertos, and is on record as saying that the oboe was his favourite instrument as a young man. Is there better evidence of his genius than that?
Peter Barnes (Oboist)

To me it is the expression of Handel’s faith and his desire to glorify God in his work. After listening to Handel’s Messiah (especially the third part) I was amazed at his love of God. This piece was instrumental in helping me become a Christian. This is testimony to the power of Handel’s music.
Edwin, Australia

It is my favourite music. I first played Messiah by accordion when I was eleven years old at a Christmas ceremony at school.
BC, London

My uncle, Ray Tasshall of Ballymena, now 85, was a very fine amateur tenor in the days when there were choral societies in every town.  He recollects singing to Messiah one Christmas!  'Comfort ye' makes me think of him at once.  I also recall Bernadette Greevy singing in her fur coat at St. Macartin’s Cathedral in Enniskillen was so cold…
Jane Vyl(?), Northern Ireland

Handel is nice because he wrote 'Hallelujah', I like 'Hallelujah' because it’s very caring but also dramatic.
Jahnavi, age 10, London

Messiah means to me the glory of God Lord Jesus who is King forever more.  The biggest worship songs, which everyone can sing wherever you are in the world.  We sing Messiah- 'Hallelujah' in our Language (Malagasy from Madagascar)...
Hortice, Madagascar

Musical Prozac-When I am nervous or anxious about life, I listen to “Comfort ye”, and I am comforted.  Amazing.
Elizabeth, New York

I first came across it by singing the 'Hallelujah' chorus, aged 14 as member of my Grammar School choir, at the annual Speech Day.  It was only later I came to recognise it as part of a bigger musical work.  I have heard artists sing the various arias, on TV and radio, over many years.  I only heard the complete piece 2 years ago.  I was given, as a Christmas present, a ticket to 'Messiah by Candlelight' in Pershore Abbey performed by the English Symphony Orchestra.  It was a surprise.  I didn’t know until I was in the building what was going to happen.  It was a delight; magical and spiritually uplifting.
Alma Organ, age 60
Pershore, Worcestershire

God’s magnificent word set to glorious music.  Humbling, awesome, inspiring, delightful.  Praise the Lord.
Stephanie, USA

Messiah was part of both my childhood and musical development.  At a young age, I was allowed to sing in the “adult choir” in church.  This is where I first performed it.  Later as a member of the community chorus, I had the privilege of singing it again, this time with orchestra.  Though a soprano, I loved all the parts-they were so interesting.  Even today when I hear it, I never know which voice will come forward: soprano, alto, tenor, or bass!  For me it is an old friend, something as much a part of me as my own fingerprints.
Pat
Boston, Massachusetts

Handel’s Messiah brings a sense of happiness and celebration within oneself.  It is a celebration of God’s love to me.  I first heard of Handel’s Messiah when I was in a church choir back in Australia.  It was a really difficult piece to learn, but thank God, at the end of the performance, we were asked again to sing the following week at church.  It obviously made an impact to people at our church.
Heather
Sydney, Australia

Handel’s Messiah reminds me of Christmas time, carols by candlelight, spending time with friends and family…
Erica
Melbourne, Australia

Messiah as well as Handel’s music means a lot for me.  I nearly grew up with it.  At Christmas the 'Hallelujah' belonged to regular ceremonies.  So I was able to join the choir when I was 3, my father (81) is still proud of that.  Then I remembered the first performance in Halle’s Market Church (where Handel had learned to play the organ) when I was 13 and the whole audience stood during 'Hallelujah' - unforgettable.  The annual Handel Festival in June is not successful without 'Hallelujah'.  I’ve been a singer in a choir for several years and it is my wish to take part in a performance of Messiah - the whole one - not 'only' 'Hallelujah'.
Sabine Frohlich
Halle, Germany

A miracle.
Juan Manvel, Spain

A rush of impressions and memories from hearing Kathleen Ferrier on the radio in Manchester (singing He was despised), to the shivers I always get down my spine when the angels appear to the shepherds and the violins seem to be  a fluttering of thousands of angels’ wings, to my son (now in his thirties and brought up of English/German parentage) saying to me that Christmas for him was singing the Messiah and that he didn’t need any other kind of Christmas celebration, or singing the 'Hallelujah' chorus, when I am so full of joy and inspiration that I reach the high notes I can’t manage at other times!
Catherine Keppel
Kassel, Germany

…7-8 hour car journeys from Dover to somewhere mid-west in France.  Dad would start thumping the steering wheel in time when it came to 'The Trumpet shall sound…' and I would try and imitate a bass with my squeaky soprano voice as loud as I could.  'I know that my Redeemer' is still a favourite.
Letty, Development Officer at Handel House

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.