December, 1941
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
4M
When the Chorus Sang: "Halleluiah!"
By JOHN B. TROWBRIDGE As Told to Anne Hazelton
George II entered the hall and made his way to his box. Almost immediately the few chords that make-up the or chestral prelude of the oratorio, at once majestic and abrupt as if to command the attention, were sounded. Into the solemn anticipation that followed, there stole the tenor recitative aria, “Com fort ye,- my people.” Then the chorus took up the hymn of praise, “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,” and on until the opening qotes of the “Hallelujah Chorus” were reached. As the exultant shouts of “Hallelujah, Hal lelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reign- eth,” rang out, there, was another stir in the audience and King George rose tó his feet and stood with bowed head. Immediately the people followed his lead and all stood reverently until the chorus had been sung through. King George did a greater thing than he knew that night. Through the years, men have followed him in recognizing this chorus as akin to “heaven’s na tional anthem” and have given it honor even as the citizen honors the national anthem of his country. Moved by the majestic portrayal of this heavenly t h e m e , congregations spontaneously rise; indeed, no one who truly loves his omnipotent Lord could do otherwise! When the chorus sang—even Royalty was moved to reverence. * * * Great as was this first success of The Messiah, who, unless it were thè inspired composer himself, could have foreseen the wonderful power for good which it was to become! Its influence has steadily widened and increased throughout the years. What is it in this oratorio with its music that defies description, that moves people as it does? Let a simple illustration give answer.
arias, and recitatives as the Japanese conductor presented the annual rendi tion of The Messiah. There were those there who never before had heard the sacred words nor the majestic music contained in this oratorio. There were singers in the choir to whom the words and music came with new meaning and power- on this night. Ás the last full voiced chord faded away, a reverent stillness filled the auditorium. Even those to whom the words of the gospel were a new strange doctrine sat quietly for a moment before rising and leaving. But the final jóy of that evening was given to the conductor who himself had been instructed at the Bible In stitute of Los Angeles and who had spent much time and strength in train ing his choir in this oratorio that lay so near his -heart. Members of the choir, men and women who had made no profession of faith but desired to have a part in the annual concert, sought him out and inquired to know more about the way of salvation. Some who had been attracted by the an nouncement of the concert had come to hear The Messiah When they would not have gone to a church service. They had stayed to enjoy the matchless music—and had been touched by the power of the Scripture words. This out come, in various settings, could be re peated innumerable times. When the chorus sang—souls ware saved. * * * Unwind the clock of time and turn back almost two hundred years to a windy March night in London in 1743. Handel’s Messiah was less than two years old and this was but its third presentation. A few minutes before the conoert began, a ripple of excitement passed through the audience as King
T y - r IGHT had fallen on the hetero- I geneous medley of life that is Tokyo. The tall thickly leaved bamboos rattled noisily in the December wind, and pedestrians drew their ki monos closer about them as the pungent ocean air added its chill. There was a sense of rush about the busy streets—the incessant traffic of motors, their horns blaring for right- of-way, darting bicycles, hand carts, lumbering'busses, and hurrying pedes trians poured back and forth through the wide streets. It was the Christmas season, and the blaze of lights, color ful banners, and fascinating Japanese shops invited purchasers. But there were some in the busy city who had other thoughts. Near a large auditorium a billboard that had already attracted many passers-by bore the. announcement of a great concert. “Tonight! The Messiah! Large Chorus and Orchestra.” Some who saw the an nouncement stopped and wondered; a few turned and went in, attracted by the strains ' of music that could be heard; others went on their way, pon dering the meaning of those words, “The Messiah.” Inside the building, a large audience listened breathlessly as the two hun dred singers, accompanied by a sym phony orchestra of forty instruments, moved through the final choruses, [J. B. Trowbridge, who furnished' the material for this article, is himself a musi cian of distinction, and get so humble a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ that one thinks of h is . consecration to Christ more than o f his musical achievements. Having received his training in music at the Ameri can Conservatory of Music in Chicago, III., and with a Master of Arts degree from Cornell College. Iowa, Dr.- "Trowbridge has taught music privately and in various in stitutions— the last twenty-five years in the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, He has con ducted The Messiah • many times—almost forty—-always with finesse and with spiritual power .— E ditor .]
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