For Unto Us A Child Is Born

For me, no Christmas season would be complete without a little of Handel's Messiah.  True, I already presented some lampooned versions of the Hallelujah Chorus, but that's not really quite the same.  There are so many glorious pieces from which to choose, not the least of which is "For Unto Us a Child is Born."  It's beautiful music, plain and simple, and I am in awe of the baroque-style runs throughout, perhaps because I suck at singing them.  I do well with more lyrical pieces, Broadway music, folk music or spirituals, but getting the hang of baroque ornamentation has always been a struggle for me.  I suppose my own voice is too heavy for the light, dancing flights of musical notation which Handel so masterfully scores.  Here is a clip of Sir Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and Tenebrae Choir in Handel's "For Unto Us a Child is Born."

And, just because it's Boxing Day, here's a bonus video of Sara MacLiver singing Handel's "Rejoice Greatly" with Anthony Walker directing the Orchestra of the Antipodes.

Happy Boxing Day!