As part of our preparation for Christmas here at BUC we offered a course on Handel’s Messiah. It included both study of the words – all taken from scripture – and reflection and information on the music. This idea came from one of our members who has sung Messiah over 50 times in various choirs and who loves the music. She made the suggestion to me in August and I said I would lead the Bibles study part if she would lead the music appreciation aspect of it. We had a great time.
We were to meet ten times but winter weather forced us to cancel two of the session. Nonetheless, we crammed everything into eight gatherings s and then, as a group, went to hear our local Cellar Singers present Messiah. The music really is glorious and our appreciation of the words and the music was enhanced because of our study together.
Of late I have been very troubled by the global news. It seems that terrorist activity is striking every corner of the globe and the slaughter of innocents is staggering. It would be so easy to give up faith and hope when faced with the tragedy that is revealed on the news.
The words from Isaiah that are used in Messiah are words written at the time of exile. The people had been devastated by foreign invasion and had been driven from their homeland. They despaired ever returning home to security and peace. Isaiah speaks to them with comfort and reassurance. These were the words that Jennens, the lyricist, used to bring the element of comfort and hope to begin this magnificent piece of music.
While I love the Hallelujah chorus, after watching the evening news, I really need to hear the reassuring opening words of Messiah, “Comfort ye, comfort ye me people,” (Isaiah 40:1)
