Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A Hallelujah Christmas!
This is my favorite time of year! I love everything about Christmas—the lights in the yard, the tree in the house, and the “Hallelujah Chorus”! But that’s not what Handel had in mind when he wrote the piece. Not even close…
George Frideric Handel actually wrote the Messiah for Lent and it was performed for the first time ever on April 13, 1742, in Dublin, Ireland. Starting in 1745, the Messiah became an annual event in Ireland during Holy Week. It wasn’t until it came to America in the 19th century that performances of the Messiah became associated with Christmas.
What might you be working on today that will be used in a way you least expect?
If your church or town wants to present an authentic version of this holiday masterpiece, good luck. Handel constantly rewrote lyrics and even changed the music to suit the voice of whatever soloist might be available. In fact, he added and subtracted so many parts and pieces that today scholars say there is simply no definitive musical text.
When you are finished with a project, are you through forever? Or do you continue to search for ways to improve upon your work?
Handel must have been incredibly focused. He wrote the Messiah in only three weeks. This was not unusual for him, but he did take a few shortcuts in churning out this particular composition. He adapted some Italian duets he had already written to serve as choruses in the Messiah. For instance, the original words to the melody of “For Unto Us a Child Is Born” were “No, I don’t trust you blind Cupid.”
Are you focused, yet still able to see a larger picture? What work might you have done in the past that can complement and raise the standard of what you are doing today?
It was a literary scholar named Charles Jennens who assembled the lyrics for the Messiah out of Old and New Testament scripture. When Jennens viewed the Messiah after it had been completed, he was beside himself with disappointment. He hated Handel’s music. Particularly loathing the overture, Jennens wrote to a friend, “I shall put no more Sacred Works into his hands to be thus abused.”
Do you listen to your critics? Do you allow them to get into your head? Or are you focused enough to create the life you choose?
Amazingly, most of the clergy at the time viewed Handel’s work as purely secular and derided his use of sacred texts. The Messiah would not be performed in a church for more than one hundred years!
Are you building a legacy that will last? Are you creating beauty in the children you raise, the friends you touch, and the people you help? The time you put into people always lasts.
Most of us are more familiar with the “Hallelujah Chorus” than any other part of Handel’s most famous work. But…have you seen it like this?
Join the more than six million who have. It will only take a few minutes but you will love it. Note the look of joy and amazement on the faces of the shoppers who were surprised by this awesome Christmas gift! And Merry Christmas to you, too!
Your friend,
Andy
13 Comments
1. Bonnie Rundell:
December 14, 2010 @ 12:22 PM
"Loved all the stories!! I think 4 and 5 were my favorites! My son, Colten (17), have a special tradition called "The 12 Days of Random Kindness". We both find at least one way each day during the12 days before Christmas to show a someone unexpected kindness - buy their lunch, carry groceries, pay for their groceries, let them in front of line at store or in traffic - you get it. They say it takes 10 days to create a habit, so the idea is to continue all year long!! Also, our rodeo kids (we're rodeo coaches for the high school team) decorate Gingerbread Houses and take them to the local nursing homes. They take a few minutes at each home to visit with some of the residents. And, believe it or not, these "cool" teens are always excited to go back each year for their gingerbread visits!"
2. Donnie Plemons:
December 14, 2010 @ 9:57 PM
"Thank you for these stories. Brings back sure gracious memories and thoughts of years past. And a special thank you for the story of "The Messiah". so good for us to keep our purpose first and doing what we should. Merry Christmas."
3. Dan Miller:
December 16, 2010 @ 11:49 AM
"Andy - I love your historical research and perspective on things we take for granted today. Yes, I've learned to get products out there and then improve them over time. I've never been guilty of waiting till something is perfect. My wife accuses me of "Ready, Fire, Aim" but I secretly actually like that process."
4. Jeff Herring:
December 16, 2010 @ 12:16 PM
"Thanks Andy for your research and the motivational questions in this blog post.
Love your heart man!
~ Jeff"
5. Karen Kuntz:
December 16, 2010 @ 12:36 PM
"EVERY time I see this video I cry. It is absolutely awesome!!!"
6. Joe:
December 16, 2010 @ 1:37 PM
"Absolutely wonderful! A true sound for the Christmas Season!"
7. Patrick Myers:
December 16, 2010 @ 2:49 PM
"Great story. See a similar "flash mob" perform the Hallelujah chorus in a mall cafeteria. Very uplifting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE"
8. Bonnie Bartel Latino:
December 16, 2010 @ 3:42 PM
"Your stories make my heart sing!
Thank you for that.
Merry Christmas.
Bon"
9. Ted Romano:
December 16, 2010 @ 5:23 PM
"I am listening to the video at the end of a busy work day. What a way to relax.
Thanks Andy and Merry Christmas,
TRomano"
10. April Hawkins:
December 16, 2010 @ 7:41 PM
"Love the post and the video is awesome!
Christmas blessings to you and your family!!"
11. Angela =^):
December 17, 2010 @ 9:32 AM
"I found this post through Michael Hyatt's tweet. I just got the older two kids out the door and am about to get the other two up and ready as well. I wasn't going to click in, but was strongly prompted to, despite our busy mornings here.
Been having a rough go of some things I know God is calling me to. I. Know. I. Am. Called. To. Them. Just yesterday evening was pretty difficult. VERY difficult. (There were tears.) Made for a tumultuous night. What a timely and perfect reminder that I need to keep going, see the whole picture, draw from what I've already done to enhance what I'm doing, persist despite critics, and ultimately leave a legacy that could only be left by God's hand in my life. Thank you for this post, because this morning God used it to renew my strength and remind me that HE is in charge of our work and what it produces... as long as we let Him be.
I guess this means I need to start following your blog. =^) Looking forward to seeing you at Women of Faith 2011 in Denver."
12. Glen:
December 21, 2010 @ 12:15 PM
"The piece was written to help an orphanage raise money, I have read extensively on Handel and feel you took some liberties with the lenten thing."
13. Andy Andrews:
December 21, 2010 @ 5:39 PM
"Handel's gifts to the Foundling Hospital did not begin until the Messiah became an annual event in London. All proceeds from that event went to the orphanage. So helpful was this source of revenue that the Foundling Hospital tried to obtain the exclusive rights to perform the piece after Handel's death, saying that Handel had specified that in his will. Luckily for the rest of us, they failed. So...yes, Handel helped the orphanage, but no, he didn't write the piece FOR the orphanage. Neither did he leave them any rights to it. AA"