Evening star., 1896-12-26
HANDEL'S "MESSIAH."
Graphic Description of the Emotional
Effect of This Nasferly Composition.

Graphic Description of the Emotional
Effect of This MasterIy Composition.
The following, taken from "David's Lit
tie Lad" Is of the most exquisite de
scriptions of the Messiah oratorio eveI
written. The publication at this time, il
view of the production next week by the
Choral Society of this mastery production
by Handel, is appropriate:
David (the older brother of the writer a
man of few words. began to speak of the
festival.
He had been at the last celebra ton of the
Three Choirs at Hereford. He told me a
few of his sensations then, and also some
thing of what he felt yesterday; he had
Sue Welshman's love of music, and he
poke enthusiastically.
Yes. Gwladys, 1t lifts one up" he said,
In conclusion. I'D like to listen to those
ehoirs in the old cathedral or go to the
top OF the Brecon-'tis much the same, the
sensation, l mean-they both lift one into
finer air. And what a grand thing that is
little woman" he added. Il mean when
anything lifts US right out of ourselves /
mean when We cease to look down at our
feet. and cease to look forever at our own
poor sorrows and gaze right straight away
from them all into the face of Cod
Yes, / said, in a puzzled voice. for of
course knew nothing of these sensations;
then, still in my childish manner Il ex-
pect TO enjoy it beyond anything: for. Won
know. David. l have never been in any
cathedral except LANDAU. and ] have
never heard the Messiah -
Well, my dear, you will enjoy it today;
but more the second time, doubt not"
Why, David?'
Because there are depths in it which
life must teach you to understand"
But. dear David. have often had such
sad thoughts
Poor child"' touch of his hand on my
M nrSG cit
Just before we reached Hereford as 1
was drawing on my long white gloves,
which had thrown aside as an UNPLEASANT
restraint during the journey, David said
one thing more: When the service is over,
Gwladys. We will walk round the Close if
you don't mind, for l have got something
/ want to tell YOU
1t darted into my head. at these words
that perhaps | was going to London, after
all The thought remained for only an
instant; it was quickly crowded out. with
the host of new sensations which all COM
pressed themselves into the next few
hours.
No. 1 shall never forget it: when 1 have
gray hairs i shall remember it. l may
marry some day and have children, and
then again grandchildren, and 1 shall ever
reserve as one or the sweetest, rarest stor-
ies-the kind of story one tells to little
sick child or whispers on Sunday evenings
what / felt when / first listened to Han
dels Messiah David had said that /
should care more for il the second time.
This was possible. for my feelings now
were hardly those of pleasure; even today
depths were stirred within me which must
respond with tension akin to pain. / had
been In light holiday mood, my gay heart
was all in the sunshine of a butterfly and
Unawakened existence. and the music while
IL aroused me, brought with Ii a sense of
shadow, of oppression, which mingled with
my JOY. Heaven ceased to be myth, an
uncertain possibility, as | listened to the
full burst of the choruses or held my breath
as one single voice ioated through the air
IN quiVering notes of sweetness. What had
thought hitherto of Jesus Christ? 1 had
given to His history an intellectual belief
| had assented to the fact that He had
borne my sins and The Lord had laid on
Him the iniquity Of ALL" but with the
the rushing knowledge that my iniquities
had added 10 His sorrows and helped to
make Him acquainted with grief. / was
IN no sense religious girl, but when
Come unto Him all ye that labor and
are heavy laden. and He will give you rest
reached my ears / felt vibrating through
my heart strings the certainty that some
day L should need this rest. Take His
yoke upon you and learn of Him His
yoke is easy and His burden is light" /
looked at David. the book had fallen from
his hands, his fine face was full of kind
Of radiance. and the burden which had TAX
en- him from Amy and the yoke which
bade him resign his own will and deny
himself seemed to be borne with a sense of
rejoicing, which testified to the truth of
how lightly even heavy sorrow can sit on
man, when with IL God gives him rest.
The opening words, Comfort ye comfort
We. my people, saith your God" would
bring their own message at a not very dis
tant day, but now they only spoke to me,
something as mother addresses a too
happy. too wildly exultant child, when she
says in her tenderest tones. Come and
rest here in my arms for little while be-
tween your play" Yes. / was only a child
yet. at play with life, but the music
awoke in me the possible future, the pos
sible working day, the possible time of
rain, the possible storm, the possible need
of a shelter from its blast. To heighten
the effect of the music came the effect of
the cathedral itself. 1t is not a very beau
t!fui English cathedral, but it was the first
i had seen. Having never reveled in the
glories of Westminster / could appreciate
the old gray walls of Hereford and what
man had done IN the form of column and
pillar, of transept and roof, the sun touch
ed into fullneSs of life and coloring today
The gray walls had many colored refec-
tions from the painted windows, the grant
old nave lay in flood of light, and golden
CLEANS penetrated into dusky corners and
brought into strong relief the symmetry
and beauty of the aisles and transept tri-
forum and clerestory. / mention all this
1 try to touch IL up with color with which
II filled my own mind-because in the old
cathedral OF Hereford 1 left behind me the
golden, unconscously happy existence of
childhood: because 1. Gwladys when I
stepped outside into the cathedral close and
put my white-gloved hand inside David $
arm and looked UP exultantly into David 8
Efe's sorrow. / was never again to be an
unconscious child, fretting over imaginary
griefs and exulting in imaginary delights
Gwladys. said David, looking down al
ne and speaking slowly. as though the
words gave him pain, owen is coming
home"