Christmas seems incomplete without hearing portions of George Frederick Handel's "Messiah". Some of us put those CDs in the audio system and listen to Handel for weeks. Some of us even sing portions of "Messiah" in our parish choirs. But the most extraordinary presentations of that music occur when masses of singers join together and 'sing along'.
Before I moved away from Chicago, I participated a few times in the "Do-It-Yourself Messiah" sponsored by La Salle Bank and held in the Civic Opera House. (I think this event still occurs, but now sponsored by different groups and located in the Harris Theater.) Come with me as I remember this experience!
My friends and I clutched our bright blue copies of the entire "Messiah" score as we crossed Wacker Drive to the entrance of the Civic Opera House. Singers streamed through all the doors, and the lobby was packed with folks bearing those blue books! A couple of us were altos and a couple sopranos, and I recall once we had a couple of basses with us, too. The doors to the main floor of the opera house opened at the specified time and we pushed through to our designated seating areas. Of course, we weren't quite far enough ahead to get close to the stage, but we found seats together and settled in. Sopranos sat in the far left section, facing stage left. Next came altos, then tenors, and then basses, facing stage right. You can be sure that every seat was filled quickly. The excitement level rose and fell.
Finally, Sir Andrew Davis walked out onto the stage (where the orchestra already waited) and oriented us to the proceedings. He was quite good-humored and apparently prepared to have a jolly good time conducting this huge collection of amateur singers. And, of course, he did have a stable of excellent soloists to carry us through the tricky bits!
Off we went. Most of you will be familiar with the variety of music within the "Messiah", so you will understand that it's a mixture of solos and chorus and instrumental parts. I had never sung with such an enormous group before and didn't quite know what to expect. Sir Andrew gave us our cue to rise when the first chorus approached, and the entire house stood up. Wow! What an overwhelming sound rose from all those voices (and overwhelming in a good, not awful, way!). We sang our hearts out, with great enthusiasm, and I've never felt anything else like that, musically. At least in my portion of the alto section, everyone followed along as if they did this sort of thing every day. It was inspiring and exciting and uplifting all at once.
And all that was just the first chorus. We sang all the way through the whole oratorio, not stopping after the "Hallelujah" chorus. I particularly appreciated that opportunity. There was a very necessary intermission, when we had the chance to chat with our choral neighbors and compare notes. Then back to our seats and the marvelous musical gallop to the end. I was exhausted but exhilarated when everything finished. I was also hooked after that first time, and participated in two more "Messiahs" before we moved away.
Handel's continuing universal appeal means that you, too, might find one of these 'singalongs' in your city or town this year. If you enjoy listening to the "Messiah" and can follow a musical score even a little bit, I encourage you to give such a concert a try. Those of you who sing along to the "Messiah" when selections are played on the radio will be transported by the experience. Even if you are singing with strangers around you at the beginning, by the time the last notes die away you will be singing with comrades and perhaps new friends.
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