FReeper Canteen - Christmas Music Dedication - 24 Dec 2011

Our Troops Rock!!!! | The Canteen Elves

[Publius]

”Pifa”, sometimes translated as “Pastoral Symphony”, is Handel’s attempt to recreate the sound of shepherds’ bagpipes. It grew in length over the years, but by 1754 Handel had reduced it to its original 11 bars as a lead-in to four short accompanied soprano recitatives, each intended to ratchet up the tension. They in turn lead into a chorus, “Glory to God”, where the trumpets appear for the first time. Note the word painting, high voices for heaven and the low voices for peace on earth. At the end, Handel marks the ending pianissimo as the vision fades. (Luke)

Pifa & There were shepherds abiding in the field & And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them & And the angel said unto them & And suddenly there was with the angel & Glory to God

[MEG33]

Thank You For The Beautiful
Christmas Music Thread, Connie

Thank You Deejays For Playing Tunes For Our
Troops, Veterans And Supporters

[Publius]

Even though there is no mention of the Lord as “bridegroom”, Handel’s original version of this soprano aria, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion”, featured a violin playing a gigue, the instrument and dance associated with weddings. The time signature for this early version was 12/8. By 1754, Handel had changed the time signature to 4/4, and this little detail disappeared. (Zechariah)

This leads into a soprano recitative, “Then shall the eyes of the blind”, which in turns leads into a soprano aria, “He shall feed his flock”. This started out as a piece for contralto, then for duet, but by 1754 Handel had settled on handing it to the soprano. (Isaiah & Matthew)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion & Then shall the eyes of the blind & He shall feed his flock

[Iron Munro]

Bob Rivers - Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire

Chipmunks roasting on an open fire
Hot sauce dripping from their toes
Yuletide squirrles fresh fileted by the choir,
They poked hot skewers up their nose.

Everybody knows some pepper and a garlic clove
Will help to make them seasoned right.
Tiny rats with a crisp golden coat
Will really hit the spot tonight.

And now when Santa sees his tray,
There'll be some home-made chipmunk jerky for his sleigh.
And every hungry child is gonna' spy
To see if chipmunks really sing when they're fried.

And so I'm brushing on some honey glaze
To keep them crisp and juicy too.
Let's hope they get served many times, many ways...
Tasty chipmunks..... good food.

And so I'm offering some recipes
From chipmunk pie to chipmunk stew.
It's not really bad
That it ended this way
Tasty chipmunks..... good food.

[Kathy in Alaska]

1st!! and 1st!!

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy!

*HUGS*

Merry Christmas!

Hodie Christus Natus Est! Alleluia, Alleluia!

[Kathy in Alaska]

2nd!!

[Publius]

Handel turned to recycling Italian opera for this final number. He uses the Elizabethan spelling of “burden” as “burthen”. (Matthew)

His yoke is easy, and his burthen is light

Thus ends Part 1 of “Messiah”.

[Publius]

Part 2 is a long series of numbers intended to culminate in the resurrection, and Handel builds it slowly. It is similar to the Passion works of Bach. Handel uses the dotted rhythms of a Baroque overture to start “Behold the lamb of God” and brings in the lower voices first. (John)

But Handel wastes no time and launches into his big production number for Part 2, a contralto da capo aria, “He was despised”. In the “B” section, Handel uses the strings in short staccato strokes to portray the sound of scourging. As the “A” section returns, note Carolyn Watkinson’s ornamentation of the vocal line. At 12:17 when she launches into her short cadenza, if your screen isn’t blurry, you have so soul! (Isaiah)

Behold the lamb of God & He was despised

[Kathy in Alaska]

3rd!!

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Connie, Hugs.

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Prof, Hugs.

Got Handel?

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening Mac, Hugs.

[Publius]

Start at Post #11 and follow along.

[TASMANIANRED]

Evening QT PI, hugs

[ConorMacNessa]

Great job, Publius! I had the opportunity to sing the Messiah as a tenor chorister on two occasions with the National Symphony in the Kennedy Center some years ago - have also sung portions of it with church choirs over the years. It's always an exhilarating experience to sing these great choruses. I believe that Handel's Messiah is one of the supreme adornments of Western Civilization.

Hodie Christus Natus Est! Alleluia, Alleluia!

[TASMANIANRED]

Even BigLook, hugs.

[Publius]

It’s one of my favorite pieces. I enjoy taking it apart and letting FReepers in on Handel’s secrets one bite at a time.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Taz!

*HUGS*

Merry Chrstmas!

Hodie Christus Natus Est! Alleluia, Alleluia!

[WSGilcrest]

"Halloo the fire! I'm friendly and I got my own grub so's I
won't be eatin' none of yourn. The twilight gets
lonesome without conversation. ...


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