UMS Concert Program, December 6, 1936: The Messiah -- Georg Friedrich Handel

Season: 1936-1937
Concert: Second
Complete Series: 2387
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

UNIVERSITY
CHARGES A. SINK, PRESIDENT
MUSICAL SOCIETY
EARL V. MOORE, MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Second Concert
1936-1937
Complete Series 2387
Students' Recital Series
(Christmas Portion)
Georg Friedrich Handel
Soloists
Burnette Bradley Staebler, Soprano Jane Ellen Rogers, Contralto Martin Edward Thompson, Tenor Hardin A. Van Deursen, Bass University Choral Union University Symphony Orchestra
Robert Grant Campbell, Organist Achilles Taliaferro, Conductor
Sunday Afternoon, December 6, 1936, at 4:15 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PROGRAM
(In order that the continuity of the work be maintained, it is requested that the audience refrain from applause until the end of each part of the program.)
Overture
Recitative (Tenor) Air (Tenor)
Chorus
Recitative (Bass) Air (Bass)
Recitative (Contralto)
Air (Contralto) and Chorus
Recitative (Bass) Air (Bass)
Chorus
Pastoral Symphony
Recitative Recitative Recitative Recitative
Chorus
Air (Soprano)
Recitative (Contralto) Air (Contralto)
Air (Soprano) Chorus
°Prano
Comfort ye my people Every valley shall be exalted
And the glory of the Lord
Thus saith the Lord
But who may abide the day of His coming
Behold, a virgin shall conceive
0 thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth The people that walked in darkness
For unto us a Child is born
There were shepherds abiding in the field And lol the angel of the Lord came upon them And the angel said unto them And suddenly there was with the angel
Glory to God
Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened He shall feed His flock like a shepherd
Come unto Him Hallelujah I
The Messiah, An Oratorio for
Soli, Chorus, Orchestra, and Organ...................Handel
Unlike many works to which immortality may he accorded, the success of the "Messiah" was immediate, and with the passage of the years we discover no abatement of its power to charm and inspire. Its association with Christmas-for some inexplicaole reason--has given to it special significance, and, to many, a Christmas season that brings with it no performance of the "Messiah" loses much of its meaning.
The "Messiah," as one writer puts it, "was improvised on paper in twentyfour days" (from August 22 to September 12, 1741). This is but one instance of the remarkable rapidity with which Handel composed. It must not be forgotten, however, that the orchestration of the "Messiah" was very often fragmentary and simple; in certain numbers merely sketched. Again three of the most important choruses were adaptations of former compositions. Handel, in his art, anticipated the modern mechanical principle of interchangeable parts, and one looks in vain for any real differences between his operas and oratorios-other than obvious distinctions in the nature of the text and use of the chorus.
The first performance of the "Messiah" was given in Dublin, April 18, 1742. On the occasion of its first performance in England on March 23, 1749, at the words in the Hallelujah Chorus, "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth," the auditors were so transported that, led by the King, they all rose to their feet and remained standing until the chorus ended. This practice has become as much a part of succeeding performances as the Christmas date. It is a hopeful sign when an English-speaking audience really breaks loose; therefore, long may the custom endure!
OVERTURE RECIT. Accompanied.--(Tenor)
Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God; Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
AIR.--(Tenor)
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.
CHORUS
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
RECIT. Accompanied.--(Bass)
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come.
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
AIR--(Bass)
But who may abide the day of His coming and who shall stand when He appeareth
For He is like a refiner's fire.
RECIT--(Alto)
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.
AIR (Alto) AND CHORUS
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain: O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
RECIT. Accompanied.--(Bass)
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall rise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
AIR.--(Bass)
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
CHORUS
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
PASTORAL SYMPHONY RECIT.--(Soprano)
There were shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night.
RECIT. Accompanied--(Soprano)
And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
RECIT.--(Soprano)
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
RECIT. Accompanied.--(Soprano)
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying:
CHORUS
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men.
AIR.--(Soprano)
Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, thy king cometh unto thee!
He is the righteous Savior, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.
RECIT.--(Alto)
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
AIR.--(Alto)
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
AIR.--(Soprano)
Come unto Him, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and He shall give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
CHORUS
Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah !
Coming Musical Events
HILL AUDITORIUM
Choral Union Concerts
8:15 p.m.
Boston Symphony Orchestra .... Thursday, December 10 Serge Koussevitzky, Conductor
Josef Hofmann, Pianist......Monday, December 14
Detroit Symphony Orchestra .... Friday, January IS
Bernardino Molinari, Guest Conductor Gregor Piatigorsky, Violoncellist . . . Monday, January 25
Artur Schnabel, Pianist.....Tuesday, February 23
Nelson Eddy, Baritone......Thursday, March 25
(Please note that Mr. Eddy will appear Thursday, March 25, instead of on the date announced on tickets and elsewhere.)
Forty-fourth Annual May Festival
Six Concerts: May 12, 13, 14, 15, 1937
The Philadelphia Orchestra Eugene Ormandy, Conductor Jose Iturbi, Guest Conductor
The University Choral Union Young People's Festival Chorus Earl V. Moore, Conductor Juva N. Higbee, Conductor
Organ Recital Series
Complimentary at 4:15 Wednesday, February 17......Arthur Poister
Professor Poister, Guest Organist, is Professor of Organ at the University of Redlands.
Faculty Concert Series
Complimentary at 4:15
Sunday, January 24 . . . University Symphony Orchestra Sunday, January 31 (Bach Recital) . Palmer Christian, Organist
Sunday, February 21.......Faculty Concert
Sunday, March 7.....University Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, March 21........Faculty Concert
Sunday, April 4 .... University Symphony Orchestra
Notices: The right is reserved to make such changes in the dates and artists announced as necessity may require. While wide and prompt publicity is given to dates thus changed, to avoid inconvenience it is suggested that, so far as possible, out-of-town guests confirm the dates in advance.
The concerts in the Faculty and Organ Recital Series are given without admission charge, except that for obvious reasons, small children will not be admitted.