I’m talking about choir practice for Christmas. It comes just once a year but it seemed like a whole year just flew by since last year’s rehearsals. CP (Choir Practice) started last week, and we do it on Sundays and Thursdays. Mind you, I’m not in the choir (my singing would drive everybody nuts) but I’m the humble pianist. The church choir, under the able hands of Ivy Tan, has been singing for as long as I can remember. Ivy is great at choosing very unique arrangements of carols. This year we’re doing Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Angels From The Realms Of Glory, to name a few.
For me, the highlight would be the selections we’re doing from Handel’s Messiah, including the famous Hallelujah Chorus. Composed in 1741, Messiah is an oratorio (a sacred work for chorus and orchestra) based on a libretto by Charles Jennens. It received its premiere in Dublin, Ireland.
I was very fortunate to have attended a live performance of Messiah, performed by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco. I tell you, nothing beats a live performance of this work, especially the Hallelujah Chorus, where it has been customary for the audience to stand up for its duration. Glorious! Nowadays, I listen to Trevor Pinnock’s recording with The English Concert and Choir, available on DG’s Archiv label. Of course, there are numerous recordings of this very well-known work.
Come Christmas morning, I’ll be pounding the ivories accompanying the church choir. I’m sure it’ll be an exhilarating performance.
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Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus
