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

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas to you too.

Thank you for posting For Unto Us a Child Is Born. What I'll bet you didn't know is that I was one of that audience that night :)

Although I no longer quite know what to think in terms of a second coming of Christ, having taken a serious dislike to Christian fundamentalism, I pray that that the Divine will come and help our little planet.

I first heard the Tabernacle Choir when I was about 9, and in the same year heard my first live performance of the Messiah. I try to listen to it every year.

One of the most profound musical experiences was hearing this choir sing the Hallelujah Chorus when I was but 17. It was life changing. It was many years later when reading in the Book of Revelations that I understood that this was the song that is prophesized to be sung at the return of Christ to the earth and had an inner witness that Handel was possessed of great spiritual communion as he wrote this wonderful music. That King George stood up in awe when he heard it performed for the first time is a great story in itself. For me, it is music of great feeling and imminently suitable for my soul to worship Deity.

I like the ending of For Unto Us a Child Is Born the best. That lovely instrumental fanfare of expectation, joy and hope also fills my heart with song. If you listen closely, you might hear me humming along in the audience ;)