Because year after year, no one sums it up like Linus and Handel. . . .

[qos]

For most of my life, these two pieces have expressed what Christmas means to me. Even now, when I no longer call myself a Christian, they make my heart sing.

For Unto Us a Child is Born sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWn7HHI-rhE


Merry Christmas, my friends!

Comments

[qos.livejournal.com]

I did think of you when I grabbed the video, but I never dreamed you would have been present at that performance!

When I was growing up, my church did a production of the Messiah every year, and it always fell on the weekend closest to my birthday. I went for the first time in 7th grade(?) and was entranced. I went to both performances each year and sat in the front row. And I made it a point of pride to be the first on my feet for the Hallelujah Chorus.

Our choir director put it out of order. They would do "The Trumpet Shall Sound" and then "Worthy is the Lamb". It may have been intended to be the last song, but it ends at a point that makes a perfect transition to the Hallelujah. I would watch the director's baton stay raised as he quickly turned the page, and my stomach leaped as if on a roller coaster as he brought it down again and the Chorus began.

I firmly believe that the Halleljuah is part of the repertoire in heaven.

From the time I was in late elementary school until after I graduated from college, my mother sang "O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion", and I can probably still remember most of it from all those years of listening to her practicing for weeks.

I haven't heard The Messiah live in years, although each year I put the dates of my former church's performance in my calendar and think about driving down to attend.

I should put that music on this morning. . .