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Sandström was obviously not swayed by the ghost of Handel in creating this new work. Not only does the piece speak with a completely new musical vocabulary, it’s marked by fresh structure and emphasis. Where Handel’s Messiah features a solo aria, Sandström’s may feature a trio, a tenor/baritone duet or even a chorus. And more germane to the message of the piece, the emphasis of the text is fresh as well, and aptly so. After all, isn’t there more than one way to think about a passage like, “The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light”? Are we to be struck especially by the darkness or the light? With this and other passages in the libretto, Sandström’s points of emphasis differ from Handel’s, but in ways that make sense, that even make new sense, I would say. For example, the opening chorus in Handel’s Messiah, “Comfort ye my people”, is a calming tenor aria set in a bright major key, whereas in Sandström’s it’s a dark, poignant, pleading chorus set in minor.
There’s also a fresh sense of pacing with the Jennens libretto, partly owed to freedom from baroque forms. We’re used to hearing many parts of Handel’s Messiah twice every time we have the pleasure of their company as repetition is a basic structural element in the arias. The trade-off in moving away from that is that the drama unfolds with a noticeably different sense of momentum in the Sandström piece. The new work is about a half hour shorter than Handel’s. The effectiveness of that pacing is something that only the individual listener can asses. Personally, I think it worked very well.
I learned last night that Sandström’s Messiah will be recorded in Europe this fall and made available on CD at next year’s Oregon Bach Festival. That’s great news. Certainly OBF audiences will welcome it. Their enthusiasm last night could hardly be contained as they all but leaped over seats in rising for ten minutes of sustained applause—very much deserved.August 17, 2011 at 6pm to May 1, 2012 at 7pm – Russia
The Composers Competition – “Choir Laboratory. XXI Century”. Music for Children and Youth – is held in 2012 for the 5th time. Its history is not very long, but the Competition is already well-known a…
Organized by Roganova Irina | Type: the, composers, competition
0 Comments 0 LikesFebruary 12, 2012 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm – WEILL RECITAL HALL, CARNEGIE HALL
Distinguished Concerts International New York Presents: Sunday, February 12, 2012 7:30PM WEILL RECITAL HALL, CARNEGIE HALL The Music of Dinos Constantinides Distinguished Concerts Artist Series …
Organized by Iris Derke | Type: classical, music, concert
0 Comments 0 LikesFebruary 18, 2012 from 8pm to 10pm – Carnegie Hall
Distinguished Concerts International New York Presents: 2012 Nico Castel International Master Singer Competition Saturday, February 18, 2012 8:00 pm WEILL RECITAL HALL, CARNEGIE HALL Presented by Dis…
Organized by Iris Derke | Type: classical, concert
0 Comments 0 LikesFebruary 19, 2012 from 2pm to 5pm – Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall
Sunday, February 19, 2012, at 2:00 PM Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall New England Symphonic Ensemble Jacqueline Hairston, Guest Conductor “Jacqueline Hairston’s Choral Spirituals” Ch…
Organized by MidAmerica Productions | Type: concert
0 Comments 0 LikesFebruary 20, 2012 from 7pm to 9pm – STERN AUDITORIUM/PERELMAN STAGE, CARNEGIE HALL
Distinguished Concerts International New York Presents: Monday, February 20, 2012 7:00 pm STERN AUDITORIUM/PERELMAN STAGE, CARNEGIE HALL …
Organized by Iris Derke | Type: classical
0 Comments 0 LikesFebruary 21, 2012 from 7:30pm to 9pm – St John's Church School Rooms
***Open rehearsal evening*** The People's Choir, Yeovil is a new and exciting community choir formed especially for the people of Yeovil. The choice of music is carried out almost exclusively by the…
Organized by Kris Emmett | Type: open, choir, rehearsal
0 Comments 0 LikesFebruary 28, 2012 from 7pm to 9:45pm – Carnegie Hall
Distinguished Concerts International New York Presents Tuesday, February 28, 2012 7:00PM STERN AUDITORIUM/PERELMAN STAGE, CARNEGIE HALL Deep in the heART of Texas Texas A&M University Chorale a…
Organized by Iris Derke | Type: classical
0 Comments 0 LikesMarch 2, 2012 at 7pm to March 3, 2012 at 5pm – Riddle Center, Methodist University
Friday Night/All day Saturday Massed Handbell Ringing Event Guest Conductor: David M. Harris, Music Director of the Raleigh Ringers Visit the NC FUMMWA website for details/repertoire/brochure/regi…
Organized by NC Conference Chapter of FUMMWA | Type: handbell, festival
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