551 views since Nov 26, 2023

And the angel said unto them: "Fear not! For the shepherds have two layers of undergarments beneath their robes.'

Well that's a relief. This is the first of three pieces I have planned for the festive season. This sequence is one of my favourite moments in Handel's Messiah. I think it's amazing how vivid the music is in its depiction of the angels, within the constraints of the instrumentation and harmonic conventions of the time.

Now don't be cruel - but I have attempted to sing the opening recitativo as a proper solo, rather than resorting to a chorus (although the chorus comes in later). As you can tell, I am not a singer, but I hope I make up for my lack of vocal talent with my enthusiastic hand gestures and eye brow raising! (How do proper singers manage to control themselves!?).