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(Handel)
Relayed from York Minster
S.B. from Leeds
THE LEEDS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conducted by Dr. E. C. BAIRSTOW
Chorus consisting of The MINSTER Choir. THE York MUSICAL
SOCIETY, and LEEDS PHILHARMONIC Choir
ELSIE SUDDABY (Soprano)
MURIEL BRUNSKILL (Contralto)
WALTER HYDE (Tenor)
ARTHUR CRANMER (Baritone)
As an alternative to the terms 'High-brow' and Low-brow,' one critic has suggested ' Serious Music' and ' Music of Entertainment.' Were these adopted, no one would have any doubt at the present day in which category the Messiah should be placed. Just over one hundred years ago, however, it was denounced, as were its creator and the performers of it, by one worthy divine, on the score that it ' made an entertainment of the sufferings of Our Lord.' There were even sober-minded citizens who regarded the performance of the Messiah as the direct cause of the great Fire of Edinburgh-a judgment like that which fell upon Gomorra.
Now universally regarded in this country as the sacred music above all others which is appropriate to Christmas, it is much too well known to need more than the briefest reminder of its scope. It is so long that it is now never given in full. There are three parts, the first beginnina with an Orchestral Overture, and including another little orchestral movement called 'A Pastoral Sym. phony.' in front of the soprano solo, 'There were shepherds.' The second part deals with the Atonement and finishes with the great ' Hallelujah ' Chorus.
Tho third, beginning with the soprano air, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth,' is the most dramatic section of the work, leading up to the triumphant bass solo, 'The trumpet shall sound, and the two choruses, ' Worthy is the Lamb ' and * Amen.'
It was performed for the first time in Dublin in April, 1742. Handel was making a short stay in Ireland and arranged the performance specially for the benefit of various charities. It was not heard in England until nearly a year later, March, 1743, in Covent Garden Theatre. After these performances Handel revised it considerably, re-writing whole parts of it. It has since been edited and altered by various hands, and Mozart's additional accompaniments have been almost universally used since his day.

Contributors

Contralto:
Muriel Brunskill
Baritone:
Arthur Cranmer

BEREITET DIE WEGE
('PREPARE YE THE WAY')
From St. Ann's Church, Manchester
S.B. from Manchester
GLADYS SWEENEY (Soprano)
CONSTANCE FELPTS (Contralto)
ARTHUR WILKES (Tenor)
REGINALD WHITEHEAD (Bass)
The ST. ANN'S CHURCH CHOIR
The AUGMENTED NORTHERN WIRELESS ORCHESTRA
Conducted by T. H. MORRISON
At the Organ, GEORGE PRITCHARD
(For the words of the Cantata see page 805)

Contributors

Soprano:
Gladys Sweeney
Bass:
Reginald Whitehead
Conducted By:
T. H. Morrison
Unknown:
George Pritchard

From Liverpool Cathedral
S.B. from Liverpool
Hymn, 'While Shepherds Watched' (Songs of Praise No. 56)
Act of Recollection
Hymn, 'It came upon the midnight clear' (Songs of Praise No. 273)
Reading from St. Luke ii 8-16
Carols:
Sweetly Sleep, do not stir
We will lend a coat of fur (Old Czecho-Slovakian)
Take heart, the journey's ended (Old French)
Sweet dreams form a shade
Address: 'The Message of Peace,' by The Rev. Charles E. Raven, D.D., Canon of Liverpool Cathedral and Chaplain to the King
The Blessing
Music by the Cathedral Choir directed by H. Goss-Custard

Contributors

Unknown:
Charles E. Raven, D.D
Directed By:
H. Goss-Custard

2LO London and 5XX Daventry

Appears in

About this data

This data is drawn from the Radio Times magazine between 1923 and 2009. It shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was subject to change and may not be accurate. More