Monday, November 29, 2010

And the season can start now.....

My brother reminded me that last night was the local sing along of The Messiah, by Handel.


I sang in our high school choir and chamber choir, and was directed by the notable "Mr. D". That man had a way of making us teenagers believe there was nothing more important in the world than a well sung song. Christmas was a blur performances and traveling and watching people dab their eyes as you sang your heart out for them. I loved every minute of it.

This video surfaced this year on You Tube, and the awe of this moment, of proclaiming something like this in public, still makes me cry after watching it at least a dozen times.



Mr D. always had a Christmas concert, and the last song was the Hallelujah Chorus. All the alumni who had sang in his classes before would come up from the audience to join the current choir, as students young and old packed the stage to sing this work by Handel. There was nothing like it.


(me-in the sunglasses- and my choir friends with Mr D. and his wife in Disneyland, where we went for our choir tour. 80's clothes and hair, just a bonus.)


Now when I sing it I can barely make it through the notes, which I still have proudly memorized, without a tear or two of my own.

Add to that equation a son, a teenager no less, who has suddenly picked up this love for singing, singing his part by my side, and excited about the song. We filled the chapel, and then some....shoulder to shoulder, hundreds of voices with the accompaniment of a full orchestra and none other than Mr. D. on the organ.


Moments like this seem almost surreal to me, the cycle that life is, the things that stick with us, the beauties of music and art. I felt truly blessed to experience this work (which Handel produced in it's entirety in a miraculous 24 days) and as we sat down at the end of the song (it is proper to always stand for this number) I leaned over and said to my brother, "Okay, now Christmas can come". He nodded, understanding me exactly.

On our way out of the church we noticed a new inch or two of snow covered the walks. The night was quiet, the feeling so sweet....my son grabbed the shovel at the door and started cleaning the walkway "in case the old ladies come out this way."

Then I returned home to a clean house, Christmas boxes stowed away again, candles burning, dishwasher running, and the tree sparkling and glowing.

And the Christmas spirit is here........


10 comments:

Lott's of Love said...

I too have fond memories of Mr. D and my days in choir. Wish I could have been there for that! It's so fun to see how you're doing through your blog - have a great holiday season!

Ingrid

Kristina P. said...

That is so cool! I was never really a choir girl. I did sing in the stake choir once.

Monica said...

The picture and the memories your post evoked are priceless.

The Hillbilly Banjo Queen: said...

I love the Messiah. I can't make it through most of the music without tearing up. It really says "Christmas" to me.

Connie said...

I came over from Miss Mustard Seed's blog and think I'm in love, sweetpea! Squeeeeealllll, you like See's Candy, you are a Mormon like me, you love the Lord like me, you're a primary president and I'm NOT squeeeeaalll, you WILL have a Canon Rebel and I do TOOOOO - love that camera. Nice to meet ya, chickee. We're in Idaho.
xoxo,
Connie

Lynnae said...

Ahhh the memories. Singing the Messiah is always the thing that gets me in the spirit. And the spirit that music brings is so strong. And with Mr. D playing, that's a bonus.

When will we have enough people for a family sing along?

Lee Weber said...

What a great post- cool memories, cool son! xo

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Don't you just love this time of year?

Unknown said...

I love this You Tube Video and what great memories you have shared. I hope you are having a fabulous Christmas Season:)
XXXOOO
Becky

tammy said...

I can't sing, but I love playing the piano for choir. Love the spirit it brings.