It’s a Wonderful Messiah Sing
Anyone who has ever sung Händel’s Messiah should come enjoy Brattleboro’s annual Messiah Sing on the first Saturday of December. You should probably cram first. I do. This post is our Saturday morning cram guide.
FOMAG‘s Messiah Sing is Brattleboro at its best. It’s when everyone from our diverse music community is drawn to one place. The soloists are not boring. They’re either up-and-and coming locals or let-me-show-you-how-this-is-done professionals. For the choruses, you’ll always be near a strong singer. Brattleboro is lousy with them. You can just hum along if you’re unsure and then sing loud for the Hallelujah Raucus. If the singing stops during that dramatic rest just before the final Hallelujah, it’s wonderful and glorious. Someone ususally goofs, but there’s always next year when we’re sure to get it right. You just gotta let go on the Hallelujah Chorus. That’s the thing and ’tis the season. As the page turn will tell you, I Know That My Redeemer Liveth!
Here are the excellent websites for practicing the Messiah when no one is listening.
Cyberbass rehearsal MIDI files: http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Handel_GF/Handel_Messiah.htm
Click on your part (like TENOR) and you’ll hear your part louder than the others. Adjust left-right balance to hear your part alone or to try “Music Minus One.”
Choral Public Domain Library: http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Messiah,_HWV_56_%28George_Frideric_Handel%29
If you need the Messiah sheet music to follow along with the Cyberbass rehearsal MIDI renditions, use this CPDL page and click on the PDF link for each section:
We will sing:
– all of Part One
– – And the Glory of the Lord [CPDL-find PDF near top] [Find this chorus and your part on the Cyberbass Messiah page]
– – And He Shall Purify [CPDL-find PDF near top]
– – O Thou That Tellest [CPDL ditto]
– – For Unto Us a Child is Born [not Unto Wus! “Befriend your glottis” is wonderful counsel.] [CPDL]
– – Glory to God [CPDL]
– – His Yoke is Easy [CPDL]
– Let All the Angels of God Worship Him [CPDL]
– Hallelujah Chorus [CPDL]
– Worthy is the Lamb [CPDL]
– Amen. [CPDL]
Donations at the door support area homeless support (See FOMAG’s post). If you’re short this week, come anyway. I’ll put in a little extra for you.
Reminder: Please set your cell phone ringtone to “Hallelujah Chorus” during the Sing.
