The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-12-10

to music, 1t is called an oratorio.
Christ was the Messiah and so the
story Of Christ, set to music, was
called The oratorio of The Messiah.
The music was written one hundred
and sixty-sevcn years ago by George
Friedrich Handel, who lived in the an
ciert town of Halle, Germany. He was
a great musician, and wrote great
deal of splendid music but by this.
work he is best known.
There are two reasons why the
Messiah has become the most univer-
sally known and appreciated of all or
atorios, and why it lives and is being
sung so many years after the man
who wrote it died. The first reason
is the greatness of the theme. For
in all ages, wherever men and women
may be found, who feel the burdens
of sorrow and sin and who Hunger
and thirst after righteousness" there,
is this message of Christ, the Messiah,
the most vital, the most important,
and the most uplifting of all messages
from God to men.
And it is because all men every
where, though sinful in their motives,
have a deep desire for righteousness,
that there is such universal interest
in the story of THE Lamb of God that
taketh away the sins of the world"
Handles first great success in this
work was the selection of the theme.
The words are taken from those YER
ses of the Bible which foretel the
coming of Christ and tell of his birth,
his sorrowful but triumphant life and
his glorious resurrection.
The second reason for the success
ana long life of this work is the
beauty and grGndure of the music
which in turn no doubt is largely due
to the first reason for its success !. e.,
the greatness of the theme. For it is
certain that in no other work of this
author does he so nearly reach the
sublime as he does in such choruses
as Behold the lamb of God" and
The H9llelujah chorus" and also
in solos like "He Shall Feed His
Flock" and "He Was respised and
Rejected of Men"
The human side of Handel is shown
in the fact that some of his music is
light and rather meaningless in char
acter, being florid and snowy. This
characteristic is doubtless due to the
influence upon him of the Italian
school of music, which wrote to please
the light, shallow taste of the people
of that time.
This tendency is illustrated in such
parts of the Messiah as the first part
Of the chorus "AIl We Like Sheep
Have Gone Astray." But here he
is ne, at his best and it is in such
choruses and solos as those previously
mentioned that he rises above the
demand of his time for mere show,
and proves himself a great genius.
Perhaps there is no other oratorio
so often given or so thoroughly enjoy
ed by all classes OF people whether
educated unsteady or not. as is the
Messiah. Not only every city but
many towns and villages have their
oratorio societies which at Christmas
time will be singing this story of the I
coming of Christ
The word of the opening TENOR solo {
are taken from Isiah 40-I, and moth 1
ing could be more restful, more sooth-
Ing or mere expressive of sympathy
for the weary soul than this mess
age Comfort Ye, Comfort We, My |
People"
The air Every valley which follows
is full OF hope and joy over the peace,
love, and harmony to come with the .
promised Messiah.
Following this is a grand chorus
in which all break forth singing and .
the glory of the Lord shall be reveal /
ed and all flesh shall see IL together.
for the mouth of the Lord hath
spoken It,"
1t would be impossible to consider
each number of this great work in
detail. but some parts are so sublime
as to forbid omission.
The first part of the work is taken
up with the prophecies, telling of
the coming of Christ, the story of his |
birth. the shepherds in the field, and .
the Heavenly Hosts singing GLORY 4
to God in the highest, peace on earth /
good will toward men" Then there is
a solo telling of some wonderful |
work of Christ "Then shall the eyes
of the blind be opened and the ears
Of the deaf unstopped."
Following this is that most beauti-
ful of solos HE shall feed his flock
like shepherd" Here we see Handel /
at his best as perhaps in no other
part of this work.