MUSIC!
So it is That Time of the Year. And I find myself going through the yearly realization that, despite being raised Jewish and currently wandering between pagan religions, I have a serious fondness for Christmas music. I've found myself to have a remarkable ability to ignore all the religious implications of the lyrics ('cause I'm not talking fucking chestnuts roasting on an open fire here) and just enjoy the music for its own sake, because a lot of it is pretty, fun to sing, or both.
I used to go to a carol party, nearly every year. And though carol parties in general are ridiculous fun (especially with morbidly dramatic soloists for We Three Kings and all that jazz), my favorite part of the evening would usually be near the end, when all but the most hardcore music nuts had wandered home, and a batch of us would gather around the piano and do exuberant tipsy half-sightread renditions of pieces of Handel's Messiah.
Which is just plain fun, because that oratorio is full of magnificent baroque earwormy musical CRACK.
I have never actually done a sing-along of the whole thing, though I know it is done. But it sounds like kind of an awesome idea. And I'm kind of wondering now if I'm the only one who thinks so. Is there anyone else out there who would be interested in a nerdy non-religious Messiah living-room sing-along? Whole oratorio or just selections, depending upon what we want. Sightreading welcome. Nontraditional instruments welcome. Heck, filks welcome. The point is to have fun!
Poll For unto us a poll is given!
I used to go to a carol party, nearly every year. And though carol parties in general are ridiculous fun (especially with morbidly dramatic soloists for We Three Kings and all that jazz), my favorite part of the evening would usually be near the end, when all but the most hardcore music nuts had wandered home, and a batch of us would gather around the piano and do exuberant tipsy half-sightread renditions of pieces of Handel's Messiah.
Which is just plain fun, because that oratorio is full of magnificent baroque earwormy musical CRACK.
I have never actually done a sing-along of the whole thing, though I know it is done. But it sounds like kind of an awesome idea. And I'm kind of wondering now if I'm the only one who thinks so. Is there anyone else out there who would be interested in a nerdy non-religious Messiah living-room sing-along? Whole oratorio or just selections, depending upon what we want. Sightreading welcome. Nontraditional instruments welcome. Heck, filks welcome. The point is to have fun!
Poll For unto us a poll is given!