Sunday, December 10, 2006

Music for Advent-2-C (Dec 10)


Prelude: Messiah "Sinfonia": Handel
Processional Hymn: 191: People Look East
Kyrie: Missa XVII (salve): chant
Gloria: -none-during-Advent-
Readings: 482
Intercessions: 115: Lord hear our prayer
Offertory: x
(11) Messiah "Lift up your heads": Handel
Acclamations: 185: Missa XVIII (simplex): chant
104-105: Mass of Creation: Haugen
Agnus Dei: Missa XVII (salve): chant
Communion Hymn: 199: Wait For The Lord
Final Hymn: 194: On Jordan's Bank
Postlude: Messiah "Pifa": Handel

Music Notes:


Georg Friedrich Haendel (1685-1759) was born in Halle Germany,
and started his music lessons at age 7. In 1702 the death-bed
wish of his barber-surgeon father obligated him to divert his
attention to law school; within a year he dropped out and went
to Hamburg as a violinist and composer. In 1706 he went to Italy
and became a master of its opera, chamber, vocal music; in 1710
he returned to Germany and was appointed Kappellmeister to the
Elector of Hanover, and made a brief visit to England. In 1712
he again went to England; his visit became permanent as the
Elector became George I of England.


His oratorio "Messiah (Dublin 1742)", with its power, lyricism,
sincerity, profundity, make it one of the supreme musical creations
as well as an outstanding example of devotional art. The "Sinfonia"
is the overture; the "Pifa" (pan-pipes) suggests the pastoral scene
just before the angels announce the birth of Jesus.

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