Showing posts with label Handel. Show all posts

Coming to Christmas Day, I wanted to share with you a special rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. We need to understand that this part of Handel's great oratorio was actually part of the Easter portion of the story. However, it has become one of the traditional parts of many communities' Christmas celebrations. You may click on the links to hear the Silent version of the chorus, or the Mall version. As for the video today, I'm sharing the Young Messiah version featuring Twila Paris (and beginning with the "Worthy Is the Lamb" introduction to the Chorus itself):

I've posted some of 4Him's Christmas music already. Even so, they were able to join in the presentation of Handel's Messiah. Their tight vocal harmony works really well on "The Trumpet Shall Sound"

In the midst of the 1994 tour of the Young Messiah CCM got a taste of their own version of "The Three Tenors". Here are Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, and Michael English sharing "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs"

Let's pause now for an instrumental in the middle of our Handel-fest, and enjoy "Pastorale" (and no, it's not Kenny G)

I have always been a fan of Larnelle Harris. You might call it "vocal range envy." His version of this portion of Handel's Messiah spotlights that massive vocal range, as well as his incomparable style. Here's Larnelle with "Every Valley":

In drawing close to Christmas Day, I thought my musical gift to you would include portions of G.F. Handel's Messiah.Moving from the classic, I will be posting portions of the "Young Messiah" which was re-packaged and then re-re-packaged and started touring in the Contemporary Christian Music circles in the early nineties.The songs as they appear here will be somewhat out of Handel's original order, but they will get us thinking about the prophecy concerning Messiah all the way to His miraculous birth and purposeful Resurrection. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. We will begin our sampling of the Young Messiah with Matthew Ward singing "Comfort Ye":

Since I am always behind, you've probably seen these (as they are all the rage on the 'Net right now). But in the spirit of the season (I know, I know. This part of the work is not really part of the birth section--but the passion--but people love to sing it as part of their Christmas tradition) I will post these here. Feel free to stand beside your computer in the time-honored tradition (attributed to royalty, no less).