I saw a performance of the Messiah last year at Benroya Hall in Seattle. I figure that not everyone in the orchestra and choir was Christian. Are there any non-Christians here who have performed it? What do you think of it? Simply a great piece of music? Since everything the choir sings is straight from the Bible, as a singer, do you think about what you're singing? Do you think it's dumb? Do you laugh inside as you sing? I remember sitting in the audience following the program, and I was just revelling in the verses. But I believe this stuff. What say you? (I'm not looking to start a fight. I'm asking honest questions, here.)
2007-12-05 04:25:36 · 8 answers · asked by MelraeJones 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
Diane, I know that part. That isn't my question. I'm just wondering what a non-believer thinks.
2007-12-05 05:00:30 · update #1
Thanks for the input, guys. :D
2007-12-05 05:05:33 · update #2
It's a lovely, magnificent piece of music. I highly doubt that anybody going to listen to it - and certainly anybody actually performing it - would treat it with any degree of disrespect.
To put it another way, the fact that I never believed that there were gods living on top of Mount Olympus didn't keep me from enjoying Homer's Odyssey.
2007-12-05 04:34:38 · answer #1 · answered by John R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My HS Music Dept perform the Hallelujah Chorus each Winter Concert as a grand Finale; alumni join in, the Band, Orchestra & chorus all in one massive performance (Prob over 200 people). A very cool effect, great parts for each of the 4 voices (Sop, Alto, Tenor & Bass) to stand out; so we all got a kick out of it.
So I view it as a wonderful classical music piece and nothing more.
2007-12-05 12:33:24 · answer #2 · answered by jared_e42 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm Jewish and I still loved Handel's Messiah, I don't care for what religion it was intended for because the music is what counts in the end. I love the rhythm, the tempo and dynamics. I performed it with my high school choir and it was great, we got great feedback on the performance.
2007-12-05 12:31:19 · answer #3 · answered by shatteredglassfairy_16 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes, i am a non christian who has performed it. in fact i have seen an entirely jewish choir perform it and once it was pointed out to the audience that the soloist was jewish. i think it's a fantastic piece of music and the concepts are interesting. you can approach it from a purely musical standpoint. so it's no big deal. a lot of music is christian since that's the predominate heritage of this country. so musicians are used to that.
2007-12-05 12:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by BonesofaTeacher 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Its a glorious piece of music, whether you believe or not.
On a related note -- I'm Jewish, but I enjoy singing bluegrass and old country gospel songs -- they're really catchy, with great sing-along choruses -- even though I don't believe in the lyrics of those songs either.
Good music transcends religion, IMO.
2007-12-05 13:02:29 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Great classical music and you dont have to be a believer to perform it. Musicians and singers are performers and this is what they do for a living. It has nothing to do with believing or not.
2007-12-05 12:29:53 · answer #6 · answered by Diane M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a beautiful piece of music. I don't think it's that hard to appreciate music from other traditions than your own. In fact much religious music is so exalting that it can be part of a religious awakening itself.
2007-12-05 12:29:55 · answer #7 · answered by TG 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I just can't get a................................ HANDEL on it!!!!
2007-12-05 12:28:59 · answer #8 · answered by toasterdevil jr. 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋