Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ For Unto You Is Born This Day...A Savior...Christ The Lord ~ 25 December 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS TROOPS AND VETERANS !! | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 12/24/2011 5:09:33 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska


 
>
 

 

 

LUKE 2:1-20
King James Version (KJV)

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.



 

 



TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; christmas; military; troopsupport
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 221-224 next last
To: LibertyRocks

Have a blessed Christmas too!


141 posted on 12/25/2011 10:51:49 AM PST by not2worry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies]

To: LUV W; Kathy in Alaska; MS.BEHAVIN; ConorMacNessa; AZamericonnie
Ok, what the -- ahem! -- hay. Let's do it again.

***

“Messiah”

by George Frederick Handel

as performed by The Academy of Ancient Music under the direction of Christopher Hogwood (1982)

Judith Nelson, Sopano 1

Emma Kirkby, Soprano 2

Carolyn Watkinson, Contralto

Paul Elliott, Tenor

David Thomas, Bass

Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford directed by Simon Preston

In 1741, George Frederick Handel faced the fact that London audiences were no longer interested in Italian opera. His two latest operas had bombed, and Handel was seriously thinking of leaving England and returning to the German-speaking world.

During Holy Week, London’s theaters were closed, and Charles Jennens, Handel’s favorite librettist, came up with a religious work that could be presented in the theater during that week. An oratorio, which is a religious cantata, would guarantee Handel a full house, which is the goal of every composer who writes music for a living. Handel knew that the authorities would not make an exception for Holy Week even for a religious piece, so the idea went in another direction. Handel decided to take his new work, “Messiah”, to Dublin in the fall of 1741 where it was received with great acclaim.

The first London performance in 1743 got a less pleasant reception. There were objections to using a theater as a venue for the performance of a sacred work and to using operatic singers of dubious personal morality to sing it. Even Jennens had issues with some of Handel’s music, which brought on yet another stroke for poor Handel, who had experienced a major stroke in 1737.

Each time “Messiah” was staged, Handel made adjustments to the score. Sometimes a piece was lengthened or shortened due to artistic instincts. Sometimes it was re-scored for different voice. Sometimes the weakness of a particular singer required a rewrite. Hogwood uses the 1754 Foundling Hospital version, by which time Handel had pretty much stabilized the score.

“Messiah” is written in three acts. Part 1 covers the prologue to Christ’s birth to his entry into Jerusalem. Part 2 covers his suffering, death and resurrection, and the spreading of the gospels by his disciples. Part 3 covers the promise of eternal life. Each part is structured like the act of a Baroque opera.

Jennens’ idea was to use quotes from the Old Testament to explain quotes from the New Testament. Direct narrative is avoided, and no singer has to impersonate Jesus, which would have been considered blasphemous. (The one exception to this was setting the various Passions to music, which Bach did.)

Instruments of that period were quite different from today, as were the performance practices of the Baroque era.

String instruments played with gut strings, not steel. The sound decay rate for gut is more rapid, and that gives the strings a thinner, more plangent quality. Vibrato, which is ubiquitous today, was used only rarely and for expressive effect. At the time, there were a large number of markings in the score for bowing and articulation, most of which have been forgotten over the centuries. After Handel, Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang’s father, wrote the first violin tutorial, which explains in detail just how these various markings are to be played. The period instrument movement has revived these techniques, which are quite different from how string instruments are played today.

The wind instruments had not yet been supercharged and had smaller bores. The (French) horn of the era was the valveless hunting horn, which was unreliable in pitch. Composers of the era used those horns for their humorous effect.

The vocal tradition of the era avoided vibrato, and the lack of vibrato gives the human voice a very different quality. Singers were expected to improvise their own ornamentation using the written score as a guideline. This was especially true in da capo arias which are written in A-B-A structure. The first time through the “A” section, the vocalist was expected to follow the score. The second time through, the vocalist was expected to ornament the written vocal line to show off his or her chops.

Choristers did not include women, and the soprano roles were sung by little boys.

Both orchestras and choruses were small in size.

Speed indications had a different meaning in the Baroque era. All Baroque music is dance music, even religious music. An instruction like allegro indicates a quick dance tempo, and adagio indicates a slower dance tempo. The modern interpretation of these instructions comes from the Victorian era, when many traditions were lost. Hogwood avoids the modern for a Baroque understanding of what these instructions mean.

This “Messiah” sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard. Stay with me for the next few hours. You’ll be amazed.

Baroque operas begin with an overture, or sinfonia. The format is a slow introduction with dotted notes in duple time, followed by a fugue, followed by a march, gigue or minuet. But Handel knew what he was doing, and he stops the fugue cold with a cadence in E minor, making way for human voice. Note the atmosphere, not so much of joy, but of anticipated joy. At 1:36 the sense of yearning for the Christ figure is palpable.

Sinfonia

The purpose of a recitative is to link larger musical numbers and change key. An unaccompanied recitative involves a singer backed by a harpsichord and often cello. An accompanied recitative backs the singer with the string section. “Comfort ye my people” is an accompanied tenor recitative leading into a tenor aria, ‘’Ev’ry valley shall be exalted”, where Handel uses the Baroque technique of word painting. Note the music for the words “crooked” and “straight”. Note also the lack of vibrato in Elliott’s rendition and his cadenza at the end backed only by a thin bass line. (The lyrics come from “Isaiah”.)

Comfort ye my people & Ev’ry valley shall be exalted

Handel introduces the chorus, “And the glory of the Lord”, with low voices first, giving him the ability to amplify as the piece goes on. (Isaiah) This leads into an accompanied recitative for bass, “Thus saith the Lord”. (Haggai & Malachi)

And the glory of the Lord & Thus saith the Lord

Every Baroque opera had a big production number in each act, and this soprano aria is the big production number for Part 1. Note Emma Kirkby’s lack of vibrato, which makes her sound like a young boy. Also note how she shows off her chops in the second run through the material, especially the cadenza. Her ornamentation is absolutely hair raising. (Malachi)

But who may abide the day of his coming

Handel liked to recycle material from his Italian operas on occasion, and this chorus, “And he shall purify”, is an example. (Malachi) It is followed by a recitative for contralto, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive”. (Isaiah)

And he shall purify & Behold, a virgin shall conceive

”O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion” is a contralto aria that expands into a chorus.

Following is a recitative for bass, “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth”. Note the sudden change in atmosphere and how Handel shows darkness and the change to light at 6:50. This leads into a bass aria, “The people that walked in darkness”, with a wandering string line minus harmony, symbolizing wandering in the darkness. The magic moments occur at 8:25 and 9:25 where the darkness is dispelled. (Isaiah)

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion & For behold, darkness shall cover the earth & The people that walked in darkness

This is another chorus derived from one of Handel’s Italian operas. (Isaiah)

For unto us a child is born

”Pifa”, sometimes translated as “Pastoral Symphony”, is Handel’s attempt to recreate the sound of shepherds’ bagpipes. It grew in length over the years, but by 1754 Handel had reduced it to its original 11 bars as a lead-in to four short accompanied soprano recitatives, each intended to ratchet up the tension. They in turn lead into a chorus, “Glory to God”, where the trumpets appear for the first time. Note the word painting, high voices for heaven and the low voices for peace on earth. At the end, Handel marks the ending pianissimo as the vision fades. (Luke)

Pifa & There were shepherds abiding in the field & And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them & And the angel said unto them & And suddenly there was with the angel & Glory to God

Even though there is no mention of the Lord as “bridegroom”, Handel’s original version of this soprano aria, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion”, featured a violin playing a gigue, the instrument and dance associated with weddings. The time signature for this early version was 12/8. By 1754, Handel had changed the time signature to 4/4, and this little detail disappeared. (Zechariah)

This leads into a soprano recitative, “Then shall the eyes of the blind”, which in turns leads into a soprano aria, “He shall feed his flock”. This started out as a piece for contralto, then for duet, but by 1754 Handel had settled on handing it to the soprano. (Isaiah & Matthew)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion & Then shall the eyes of the blind & He shall feed his flock

Handel turned to recycling Italian opera for this final number. He uses the Elizabethan spelling of “burden” as “burthen”. (Matthew)

His yoke is easy, and his burthen is light

Thus ends Part 1 of “Messiah”.

Part 2 is a long series of numbers intended to culminate in the resurrection, and Handel builds it slowly. It is similar to the Passion works of Bach. Handel uses the dotted rhythms of a Baroque overture to start “Behold the lamb of God” and brings in the lower voices first. (John)

But Handel wastes no time and launches into his big production number for Part 2, a contralto da capo aria, “He was despised”. In the “B” section, Handel uses the strings in short staccato strokes to portray the sound of scourging. As the “A” section returns, note Carolyn Watkinson’s ornamentation of the vocal line. At 12:17 when she launches into her short cadenza, if your screen isn’t blurry, you have so soul! (Isaiah)

Behold the lamb of God & He was despised

Three short choral numbers are recycled from an earlier Italian opera. “Surely he hath borne our griefs” sets the table. “With these stripes we are healed” is developed as a fugue. The third sounds suspiciously like, “Oh we like sheep,” which is not what Handel wrote! (Isaiah)

The next two linked numbers start with a recitative for tenor, “All they that see laugh him to scorn”. Note how Handel word paints the sounds of scourging, laughing and the shaking of heads. This leads into a mob chorus, “He trusted in God”, a crowd scene developed as a fugue. (Psalm 22)

The next two numbers are a recitative for tenor, “Thy rebuke has broken his heart”, and a tenor aria, “Behold, and see if there be any sorrow”. (Psalm 69 & Lamentations)

Surely he hath borne our griefs & With these stripes we are healed & And we like sheep have gone astray & All they that see him laugh him to scorn & He trusted in God & Thy rebuke has broken his heart & Behold, and see if there be any sorrow

Two numbers are joined: a recitative for soprano, “He was cut off from the land of the living”, and a soprano aria, “But thou didst not leave his soul in hell”. (Isaiah & Psalm 16)

They lead into a chorus, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates”. Watch the buildup of the chord progression and its gentle unraveling from 4:12 to 6:38. It’s magical. (Psalm 24)

Now comes a recitative for tenor, “Unto which of the angels said he at any time”, followed by a chorus in the form of a fugue, “Let all the angels of God worship him”. (Hebrews)

The aria, “Thou art gone up on high”, was moved from bass to contralto in the years between 1741 and 1754, but Handel finally settled on handing it to the soprano. (Psalm 68)

The following chorus shows off Handel’s gift for word painting. Note the single notes for “The Lord gave the word” and the busy notation for “Great was the company of the preachers”, as if the preachers had entirely too much to say. (Psalm 68)

”How beautiful are the feet” is an aria that went through a number of changes between 1741 and 1754, but Handel finally settled on handing it to the soprano. (Romans)

He was cut off out of the land of the living & But thou didst not leave his soul in hell & Lift up your heads, O ye gates & Unto which of the angels said he at any time & Let all the angels of God worship him & Thou art gone up on high & The Lord gave the word & How beautiful are the feet

”Their sound has gone out” is a chorus aimed at brevity. (Romans)

It is followed by a “rage” aria for bass in operatic style, “Why do the nations so furiously rage together”, which Handel shortened by nearly half over the years so that it could quickly lead into the next number, a mob chorus in the form of a fugue, “Let us break their bonds asunder”.

A tenor recitative follows, “He that dwelleth in heaven”, leading into a tenor aria, “Thou shalt break them”. (Psalm 2)

Their sound has gone out & Why do the nations so furiously rage together & Let us break their bonds asunder & He that dwelleth in heaven & Thou shalt break them

It’s time to release all that tension and bring Part 2 to a close. This is the best known number in “Messiah”, a chorus where the trumpets are heard for only the second time in the whole oratorio. It’s the first time for the tympani. This is the announcement of the resurrection. At 1:33 Handel walks up to the edge of setting the chorus as a fugue, but backs away and settles for a canon. The ascending phrases backed by the trumpet are nothing short of magic, as he ratchets up the tension for the breakthrough at 2:30. (Revelation)

Hallelujah

Thus ends Part 2 of “Messiah”.

Part 3, unlike the other two parts, begins with a sense of certainty rather than anticipation. The issues have been resolved, and it’s time for a short epilogue on eternal life. “I know that my redeemer liveth” is a soprano aria that is one of the few pieces that underwent no revisions. Note Judith Nelson’s ornamentation as she repeats the material. (Job & 1 Corinthians)

This is followed by a chorus, “Since by man came death” and a bass recitative, “Behold, I tell you a mystery”. (1 Corinthians)

I know that my redeemer liveth & Since by man came death & Behold, I tell you a mystery

It’s time for the big production number for Part 3, “The trumpet shall sound.” This piece features the only instrumental solo in the work, written for trumpet. There would normally be a temptation to write a march here, but Handel resists the obvious to write a bass aria in 3/4. This aria was even longer in 1741, but Handel shortened it for the 1754 performance. Note the odd setting of the word “incorruptible”. Note also the use of the same musical phrase for “We shall be changed” everywhere it appears. This goes against the meaning of the line, which is why Charles Jennens criticized the composer’s approach. Handel’s word painting fails him. (1 Corinthians)

Following is a contralto recitative, “Then shall be brought to pass”, followed by contralto and tenor duet, “O death, where is thy sting”, which expands into the chorus, “But thanks be to God”, using the same musical material, all of which was recycled from an earlier Italian opera. (1 Corinthians)

The trumpet shall sound & Then shall be brought to pass & O death, where is thy sting & But thanks be to God

”If God be for us” is an aria for soprano, then transposed for contralto, and then handed back to the soprano. Note Emma Kirkby’s vibrato-less voice and its boyish quality. (Romans)

If God be for us

Now it’s time for the grand finale, a series of three choruses beginning with “Worthy is the lamb that was slain”, followed by “Blessing and honor” set as a canon, finishing with a giant fugue with one word, “Amen”. Listen to that amazing wrap-up! (Revelation)

Worthy is the lamb that was slain

Thus ends “Messiah”.

142 posted on 12/25/2011 11:02:24 AM PST by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: Publius
Bravissimo, Publius!



Hodie Christus Natus Est! Alleluia, Alleluia!
143 posted on 12/25/2011 11:12:59 AM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: ConorMacNessa
Thanks, Conor.

(blush blush blush)

144 posted on 12/25/2011 11:14:58 AM PST by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...


AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL



A multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14 KJV
(click)


May the Blessings of Christmas descend upon you and remain throughout the New Year!




Hodie Christus Natus Est! Alleluia, Alleluia!
145 posted on 12/25/2011 11:20:45 AM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: Colonel_Flagg; Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; Mrs.Nooseman; AZamericonnie; HiJinx; BIGLOOK; ...



Orphei Drangar~Jul, Jul, Stralande Jul.wma

Orphei Drangar~Stille Nacht.wma

Orphei Drangar~Ave Maria.wma

Orphei Drangar~Nar Det Lider Mot Jul.wma

Thank you, Colonel Flagg, sir,
for introducing me to this
beautiful music
six years ago.
May everyone enjoy it like I do.
It has become a treasured tradition.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

146 posted on 12/25/2011 11:22:32 AM PST by luvie (This tagline reserved for a hero.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...


Wise Men Still Follow Him!



We Three Kings

A Blessed and Happy Christmas to you and yours!




Hodie Christus Natus Est! Alleluia, Alleluia!
147 posted on 12/25/2011 11:23:34 AM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: Publius

You DID it! Bravo!! Well done!


148 posted on 12/25/2011 11:23:38 AM PST by luvie (This tagline reserved for a hero.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

Now?


149 posted on 12/25/2011 11:24:14 AM PST by luvie (This tagline reserved for a hero.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

Now!


150 posted on 12/25/2011 11:24:31 AM PST by luvie (This tagline reserved for a hero.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

I’ve saved this info, and I’ll be posting it next year at Christmas.


151 posted on 12/25/2011 11:29:11 AM PST by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 148 | View Replies]

To: Publius

It will be an excellent Canteen Christmas Tradition! :)

Lots of hard work and it is appreciated! :)


152 posted on 12/25/2011 11:32:03 AM PST by luvie (This tagline reserved for a hero.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

Christmas Music Bump.


153 posted on 12/25/2011 11:34:55 AM PST by E.G.C. (Edward's Soft Rock Playlist: On Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=A7A56731DE671E6A)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385
It is something to remember. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, rab.
154 posted on 12/25/2011 1:23:13 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: ContraryMary
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, ContraryMary.
155 posted on 12/25/2011 1:25:25 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Gene Eric
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Gene Eric.
156 posted on 12/25/2011 1:30:48 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: TheConservativeParty
Merry Christmas to you and yours, TheConservativeParty.
157 posted on 12/25/2011 1:53:15 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: SoldierDad; vigilante2; PERKY2004; jackv; Jemian; Azbushgal; LUV W; mystery-ak; armymarinemom; ...
Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.


John Conlee ~ They Also Serve


158 posted on 12/25/2011 2:02:20 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Jet Jaguar; txradioguy; Laurita; CMS; OneLoyalAmerican; tongue-tied; Defender2; Beagle8U; ...
To our Military -

Thank you for protecting us. Sleep well and safe.
May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

**********************************

To those of our Military and Allies who gave their all,
- May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country always remember.


159 posted on 12/25/2011 2:03:41 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: All

The Lord's Prayer

160 posted on 12/25/2011 2:04:27 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 221-224 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson