Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about Handel's "Messiah" and a Gospel version of that composition entitled Handel's Messiah-A Soulful Celebration".
Four* YouTube examples of "Handel's Messiah-A Soulful Celebration" are also included in this post.
*A video of Quincy Jones Feat. All Star Chorus - Hallelujah! (1992) was added on December 22, 2018.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Handel for his musical legacy and thanks to the producers and performers of Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these two YouTube examples that are embedded in this post.
Happy holidays!
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INFORMATION ABOUT HANDEL'S "MESSIAH"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)
"Messiah… is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the Coverdale Psalter, the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
Handel's reputation in England, where he had lived since 1712, had been established through his compositions of Italian opera. He turned to English oratorio in the 1730s in response to changes in public taste; Messiah was his sixth work in this genre. Although its structure resembles that of opera, it is not in dramatic form; there are no impersonations of characters and no direct speech. Instead, Jennens's text is an extended reflection on Jesus as the Messiah called Christ. The text begins in Part I with prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to the annunciation to the shepherds, the only "scene" taken from the Gospels. In Part II, Handel concentrates on the Passion and ends with the "Hallelujah" chorus. In Part III he covers the resurrection of the dead and Christ's glorification in heaven.
Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces, with optional settings for many of the individual numbers. In the years after his death, the work was adapted for performance on a much larger scale, with giant orchestras and choirs. In other efforts to update it, its orchestration was revised and amplified by (among others) Mozart (Der Messias). In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the trend has been towards reproducing a greater fidelity to Handel's original intentions, although "big Messiah" productions continue to be mounted. A near-complete version was issued on 78 rpm discs in 1928; since then the work has been recorded many times."
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INFORMATION ABOUT "HANDEL'S MESSIAH: A SOULFUL CELEBRATION"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handel%27s_Messiah:_A_Soulful_Celebration
"Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration is a gospel album by various artists, released in 1992 on Warner Alliance. Executive produced by Norman Miller, Gail Hamilton and Mervyn Warren, it is a reinterpretation of the 1741 oratorio Messiah by George Frideric Handel, and has been widely praised for its use of multiple genres of African-American music, including spirituals, blues, ragtime, big band, jazz fusion, R&B and hip hop.
The album received the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as the 1992 Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year.[1] In 1993, the various recording artists participating in the project were collectively nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist."
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Hallelujah Chorus of the Handel's Messiah from The Soulful Celebration [video]
GMWA Atlanta Chapter, Published on Jan 14, 2009
In 2008, The Atlanta Chapter of the GMWA, Inc celebrated grand style in A Soulful Gospel Celebration with Ann Nesby sharing as the hostess.. This song was wonderfully celebrated under the direction of Elder Kelvin Manson and to take it on home in the end, please don't miss the wonderful Ms. Debi Dixon. Truly, Hallelujah is the highest praise.
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Example #2: Quincy Jones featuring the All Star Chorus - Handel's Hallelujah! Chorus [sound file]
deeteedub, Published on Oct 24, 2010
"Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration" is a critically acclaimed gospel album by various artists, released in 1992. Executive produced by Norman Miller, Gail Hamilton and Mervyn Warren, it is a reinterpretation of the 1741 oratorio Messiah by George Frideric Handel, and has been widely praised for its use of multiple genres of African-American music, including spirituals, blues, ragtime, big band, jazz fusion, R&B and hip hop.
The album received the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as the 1992 Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year. In 1993, the various recording artists participating in the project were collectively nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist.
This is the "Hallelujah!" chorus from that project which features an all star chorus: Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Patti Austin, Bernie K., Daryl Coley, Commissioned, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Clifton Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Kim Fields, Larnelle Harris, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Linda Hopkins, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Lizz Lee, Dawnn Lewis, Babbie Mason, Johnny Mathis, Marilyn McCoo, Mike E., Stephanie Mills, Jeffrey Osborne, David Pack, Phylicia Rashād, Joe Sample, Richard Smallwood, Sounds of Blackness, Take 6, Darryl Tookes, Mervyn Warren, Thomas Whitfield, Vanessa Williams and Chris Willis. Arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones.
For this video, I've featured photos of some of the artists that performed on this song.
LYRICS: (for this rendition)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And of His Christ!
And He shall reign for ever and ever!
And He shall reign for ever and ever!
And He shall reign for ever and ever!
And He shall reign for ever and ever!
King of kings, (for ever and ever) and Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
King of kings, (for ever and ever) and Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
King of kings, (for ever and ever) and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Forever and ever ...
Hallelujah!
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Example #3: Hallelujah! [added December 22, 2018]
soundsgoodtomeYT, Published on Oct 26, 2017
From the 1991 album 'Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration'
(Winner of the 1992 Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album)
Produced by Mervyn Warren.
Executive Produced by Quincy Jones.
Arranged by Mervyn Warren, Michael O. Jackson, and Mark Kibble.
Brass arranged by Jerry Hey
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Example #4: Singin' Black and White: Hallellujah from HANDEL'S MESSIAH: A SOULFUL CELEBRATION [video]
Firebird Arts Alliance, Published on Dec 19, 2012
From Singin' Black and White's TV Special: "SHOUT HALLELUJAH: A New South Gospel Christmas"
Music published by Alfred Music Publishing and available at leading sheet music distributors.
Special Guest Conductor, Rollo Dilworth leads all 8 Singin' Black and White Choirs, the Singin' Black and White Gospel Band and the SBW Orchestra.
Singin' Black and White brings choirs together of all races, ages and musical styles to build better community and make better music. By combining ongoing musical collaboration with facilitated work to break down barriers of race, age and background, Singin' Black and White hopes to make better choral music and a better world.
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