Behind the scenes of Messiah

Christmas is getting closer! I hope you are being very good. I’m trying very hard … but it’s difficult. I almost got in trouble last Sunday at the rehearsal for the Messiah performance. (I used to say I was at Messiah practice, and a smarty friend said, “I believe that job has been filled.” So now I word it differently.

Ok, back to my story. We are so blessed to have a great foundation laid by the late Charles Butler and Marvin Murphree. I joined the Community Choir way back in the Charles Butler days at the former Presbyterian Church downtown. The choir rows faced each other, which was different for this Baptist girl. I was scared to death, but excited to be able to participate. I was also excited to meet the late Clara Sims. She made me feel so welcome and we became instant friends. (I am sure most of the town were instant friends with Clara!)

I was also pleasantly surprised when Mr. Butler didn’t kick me out. I can read music and sing low alto, but I don’t have a fancy solo voice like the fantastic soloists always featured each year. I have a nice blending harmony-type voice. At least I think so! (Can you hear me laughing and smiling?)

I do remember after that first practice, I marched right into Ashley Music store the next day and purchased my own copy of the music. I highlighted the alto line, so I could follow it easier as I turned pages. (All four parts, plus accompaniment are in my music!) I also noticed I got so caught up with listening to the men who were behind me, I would forget to count … and I had my own private solo many times. Then there were times it felt like I should come in, but shouldn’t so I wrote “NO” in the measure, so I wouldn’t jump in at the wrong time.

This year we are so blessed to have Michael Crouch as our conductor. As a retired music teacher for the Harrison School District, he definitely keeps us on our toes. (And mine are sore!)

He has us warm up before we begin the singing. If you walked in, you’d really think you were in an aerobics class. Arms up toward the ceiling. Palms flat. Now stretch. Now grasp those hands and bend to the right. Don’t knock over your neighbor. Stretch. Don’t forget to breathe. Now the other side. Eventually we tuck elbows in and twist from side to side.

This past Sunday (the one I almost got in trouble for) I just couldn’t help it. I said out loud, “Are you going to tell us what all this stretching has to do with singing?”

Of course he looked in my direction, but wasn’t sure where the voice came from. So I denied it of course. Then he said, “That’s an excellent question.” (After he commented that he didn’t realize I was such a smart aleck. I had fooled him into thinking I was a nice lady. I reminded him he taught our sons … it runs in the family!)

I doubt I was the only one who didn’t know you sing with your whole body … and if you are stretched out and relaxed, you sing better. Did you know that?

He is also a stickler (and I appreciate the training!) about how we correctly pronounce our vowels. When he says it incorrectly, I think … yeah I speak that way! But singing vowels is so different from our Arkansas twang, and in my case a little Texan mixed in from years ago.

As an example, there are several phrases about the Sons of Levi … and in some cases to get it to come out right I wrote down I need to say Saws. So I’m the mother of three “saws.” Not suns as we tend to sound like, but all nice and proper with the “ah” sounds.

Mr. Crouch reminded us that we have been taught a great foundation, and he gets to put the icing on the top. He probably wishes he didn’t have one with crazy sprinkles or a screw loose … but sometimes that’s what you get!

In all seriousness, this music is such a blessing and a miracle composed by George F. Handel. The text was compiled from the King James Bible in 1741 and performed in April 1742 in Dublin and then in London a year later. Mr. Handel wrote the entire three-hour work in only 24 days.

(Don’t worry. We don’t sing three hours worth!)

The melodies and words speak volumes to my heart. I’ve tried to compose music and it’s not my talent. So all the intricacies of voices moving like violins and all four parts doing different things at the same time and coming together in harmonies that compliment each other are magnificent.

This style of music may not be your favorite, but it will grow on you. I hope you will give it a chance. And just an FYI, it is tradition to always stand when the Hallelujah Chorus is being sung. Even if you are the only one, it shows you have been taught well, and have good manners. And when you hear scriptures put to music it will stick to your soul. I can’t wait to meet Mr. Handel some day and hear the “Heavenly” performance. Maybe they will let this PW sing, if Mr. Crouch puts in a good word for me!

We do have a good time getting ready to perform this masterpiece for our community. Please join us Monday evening, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary of First Baptist Church at 1400 S. Pine Street.

Editor’s Note: I did not let Mr. Crouch read this first. So if I’ve made horrible “music” mistakes, they are my own loose screw thoughts!