A soldier in the "War on Christmas"! (TM)

[AlbertCat]

We must stop things like this!

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OK seriously, now that it's the season.... here is my favorite number from Bach's Christmas Oratorio. I love the obligato (the strings and oboes in unison) how it cleverly intertwines with the voice... especially in the middle section before the da capa (where they repeat the opening section at the end) It's low and then suddenly starts at a high point and just descends using it's familiar by now motif while the alto sings an ornamented melisma. SO GOOD! Enjoy!

Here are the lyrics so you can sing along:

Bereite dich, Zion, mit zärtlichen Trieben,
Make yourself ready, Zion,with tender desires
Den Schönsten, den Liebsten bald bei dir zu sehn!
to see with you soon him who is most beautiful, most dear!

Deine Wangen
Your cheeks
Müssen heut viel schöner prangen,
must today be far more beautifully resplendent,
Eile, den Bräutigam sehnlichst zu lieben!
hasten, to love your bridegroom with the greatest longing!

da capa

Now go make those cheeks resplendent!

[cbayer]

1. I had the great pleasure of singing in the chorus for the Oratorio much earlier in my life.

Not the soloist, but still, I loved it.

And this is indeed one of the most beautiful parts of it.

[AlbertCat]

2. Envy...

.... I'm no musician and cannot sing. Everything I know about music came from reading the back of album covers, and working on ballets and operas.

A rival to this aria...which come quite early on in the 3 hour work... is that aria for Mary (and really any believer) as she contemplates what is happening.

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Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder
Enclose, my heart, this blessed wonder
Fest in deinem Glauben ein!
firmly in your faith!
Lasse dies Wunder, die göttlichen Werke,
Let this wonder, this work of God,
Immer zur Stärke
always serve to strengthen
Deines schwachen Glaubens sein!
your weak faith!


I know we over here do "Messiah" more because it's in English... and that makes sense. But y'know even though Handel himself started the tradition of performing it every Christmas (to support the "Foundling Hospital&quot Messiah is not really just about Christmas.

Both works are so worthwhile. They go way beyond religion.

[cbayer]

3. I sang very well when I was younger and could read music.

Then I smoked for 45 years. I quit 6 months ago and my voice is actually coming back some.

This is a beautiful aria as well. When I sang this in the chorus, I did not know the translation, though I researched it later.

I still love the Messiah. It is the one piece of christmas music that I "religiously" play on christmas morning. We don't do christmas at all except for this one piece…. and I play it all the way through, even though I know it's about much more than christmas.

Handel was apparently manic when he wrote it, and that shows. I agree that it goes way beyond religion, but it might be the closest I ever get.