Learning to Sing Handel's Messiah

December 1, 2006 9:04 PM

Need some help in singing Handel's Messiah!

Just attended for the very first time, a choral singing of the Messiah. What a total blast! But I'm so new at this i need help. Are there recordings of the different parts separated out? I'd like to be able to hear the baritone part by itself. (real voice rather than midi preferred!)

posted by storybored to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Yeah, those exist for a lot of the better-known classical pieces, and definitely for the Messiah; I have the sop1.

Are you talking about doing Messiah singalongs, where people show up because it's a Christmas tradition, and do it without really knowing what's going on? Or are you learning it as a choir to perform later? If it's the latter, the choir director should be able to hook you up. Have you asked him/her?
posted by booksandlibretti at 11:00 PM on December 1, 2006

I'm not sure it will help you, but everyone should hear The Roche's a capella version of the Hallelujah Chorus. The different parts are certainly distinguishable. Plus, it is delightful!

There are better versions around, but I can't resist linking to this youtube video I just discovered through googling.

Good luck and have fun!
posted by trip and a half at 11:03 PM on December 1, 2006

Truly a fantastic thing to do, however arranged. As a teen, I once did it w/full orchestra as one voice in a 600 voice choir. It was my highschool choir director's alma matter. (Hiedelburg College, Ohio) What an experience!

I learned my part (also baritone) from practice and from sitting at my mom's Hammond, getting the notes down, combined wth plain old sight-reading. (but then, I've been singing since as far back as I can remember, seeing as how my mom was all musical)
posted by Goofyy at 1:57 AM on December 2, 2006

We sang the Messiah at my church and Cincinnati (two Christmases ago) and were all given our different parts on cd. Obviously, we were only given the chorus parts and not the solos which are

1. for one person
2. really hard

If you're interested I could probably get my hands on copies and mail it them you. I'm still very good friends with our choir director and it would give me a good excuse to get in touch with him.

If you're interested you can contact me via my email address in my profile.
posted by allthewhile at 8:58 AM on December 2, 2006

Response by poster: Booksandlibretti, this is actually a group of about 700 singers doing the choruses so we are expected to know what's going on :).

thanks allthewhile, i think i will take you up on that!
posted by storybored at 1:30 PM on December 2, 2006

PocketCoach is a great resource
posted by fvox13 at 9:15 PM on December 2, 2006