The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-12-24

The announcement that the Minot
Choral club will give the Mes.
siah" on the evenings Of Dec. 23rd
come as welcome news to many
hundreds in this city, because the
oratorio has never been given in
full in Minot before. Many living
here have never had the opportun-
ity Of hearing great oratorio while
others will be glad to hear this
work on account OF It bringing up
remembrances OF the days of their
youth when they perhaps lived in
some large city and belonged to a
great chorus that frequently gave
the great work.
1t is natural that the Messiah
should be given Christmas week.
Many tickets have already been
sold and Jacobson's opera house
will be crowded to- it's utmost ca
pacity.
ANY performance under the direc-
tion of Major Persons is sure OF
success and its excellence is assur-
ed by the fine soloists engaged for
the occasion.
Handel, a1tho a German, was
adopted by the English people and
become the tone poet of the Anglo
Saxon race. He held the same place
in music that Milton did in liter
ature in the affection of the English
people.
I The entire history of the Messiah
is full of interest. It was composed
in twenty-one days and Handel be-
lieved himself inspired by Col while
writing it. 1t will always remain
Handel's most popular work and is
conceded to be the purest and most
generally loved sacred work ever
produced.
The history of the first perform
ance of the Messiah is well known.
In Nov. 1741 Handel was invited to
go to Dublin. This invitation came
at most discouraging period in
his life. Some of the, greatest
works had been rejected by the
fashionable London audience, but
not so in Dublin. Night after night
the hail in Dublin in which his per-
formances were given was crowded
to sufcocation. Handel wrought to
enthusiasm by this appreciation de-
termined to bring oft a work be-
fore these people that he had not
yet presented to an English audi
ence. On April IL, 1742 he gave
the English people performance
of his Messiah. The audience list
ened to it enraptured and as the
ariar and the charmes came to
an end the audience broke out
unrestraineily in applause. 1t is
said that so great was the audi
ence that the women were not al
owed to wear hoop skirts and then
200 extra people were admitted.
Henceforth Handel's future was as
sured in London. The Messiah was
first produced there in 1743 and at
tire rendering Of tire ''HaIelujar'
chorus the king and all the audience
rose AMI remained standing till the
chorus was ended. This act of de-
votion has continued to be a GUS
tom down to the present day.
The story of what a musical writ
er of the 18th century calls the first
adequate performance OF the 'Mes-
siah" is not so familiar. This was
the famous performance given at the
great Handel commemoration in
Westminster Abbey London in 1874.
/, The largest choir and orchestra
that had ever been assembled, pro-
duced the music and Mime Mara's
singing of the soprano role, particu-
larly of the aria II know that my
Reieemer Mveth" affected the audi
ence to tears.
Mrs. Bangs, soprano, Miss Boyn-
ton, contralto, Mr.. 1slefson, tenor,
and Mr.. Wells hor'tnne. Major
Persons will take the base solos
instead OF DR.. Storey.