As a musician, I am routinely hired to play a few "holiday gigs." Most of these concerts range from church musicals to background music.
This past weekend, the Asheville Symphony gave it's annual "Holiday Pops" concert. I wasn't expecting much, just the usual Sleigh Ride, maybe some Home Alone selections and a few traditional carols. I was right. Thos things were all programed. However, our conductor also programed several traditional Christmas carols. These turned out to be the focus of the whole program.
The first half set the mood for the rest of the concert. We began with what I mentioned earlier; Home Alone, Sleigh ride, and then transitioned into some pieces performed by the ASO Children's chorus. After all the traditional stuff you usually hear at Christmas pops, the first half concluded with selections from Handel's Messiah. This piece is always moving, especially the Halleluiah chorus. There is a tradition, branching back to the 16th century, to stand when the Halleluiah chorus is performed. When the King of England heard it for the first time, he was so moved by the lyrics, that he couldn't help but stand. Check out the lyrics...
I was moved to tears as I played and watched as the whole auditorium stood to the lyrics "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah!" and "And He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings, forever and ever. And Lord of Lords, Halleluiah, Halleluiah." I was reminded of Romans 14:
This past weekend, the Asheville Symphony gave it's annual "Holiday Pops" concert. I wasn't expecting much, just the usual Sleigh Ride, maybe some Home Alone selections and a few traditional carols. I was right. Thos things were all programed. However, our conductor also programed several traditional Christmas carols. These turned out to be the focus of the whole program.
The first half set the mood for the rest of the concert. We began with what I mentioned earlier; Home Alone, Sleigh ride, and then transitioned into some pieces performed by the ASO Children's chorus. After all the traditional stuff you usually hear at Christmas pops, the first half concluded with selections from Handel's Messiah. This piece is always moving, especially the Halleluiah chorus. There is a tradition, branching back to the 16th century, to stand when the Halleluiah chorus is performed. When the King of England heard it for the first time, he was so moved by the lyrics, that he couldn't help but stand. Check out the lyrics...
I was moved to tears as I played and watched as the whole auditorium stood to the lyrics "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah!" and "And He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings, forever and ever. And Lord of Lords, Halleluiah, Halleluiah." I was reminded of Romans 14:
"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God"
and every tongue shall give praise to God"
I can't imagine what it will look like when the whole world will bow before the Lord, can you?
1 comment:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was finishing up the service for Sunday Dec 24 and this was just what I needed! The Lord is truly amazing for me to find this posting; his hand was definitely in it!
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