More than 180 enthusiastic singers met at St Mary’s Church for a Come and Sing Messiah workshop organised by Henley Choral Society (HCS). Singers came from near and far, from around 30 different choirs and singing groups, to learn about and sing some choruses from this much-loved oratorio.
The day was led by the charismatic and award-winning Hilary Campbell who is currently the visiting conductor of HCS. She was ably supported by Anita D’Attellis, one of HCS’s superb pianists. With two excellent professional musicians and a church of enthusiastic singers, the day was full of promise. We were not disappointed.
Many, but not all the singers on Saturday, had sung Messiah before but maybe not as led by Hilary Campbell. The day started with Hilary giving a brief description and history of Handel’s composition, the meaning and feeling of each of the three parts and how we might express contrasts in this exciting composition.
This was a workshop: plenty of singing and plenty of movement. The vocal warmup, essential before starting, especially when chilly, was imaginative and new to many. But it didn’t stop there. To some people’s surprise, we were encouraged to move as we sung throughout the workshop. Sometimes we sang in groups, to each other, or addressed different fellow participants across the church. More energetic movements included dancing while we sang and while in pairs leaning on a partner’s shoulders. Why? In short, to help our muscles used in singing, relax and move more efficiently. This in turn would help us sing better and communicate better with the audience.
Some of the best-known choruses, ‘For unto us a child is born’ and ‘Hallelujah’ were on the menu along with lesser-known ones; ‘And with his stripes’ and ‘All we like sheep have gone astray’. The range of choruses provided a great opportunity to try and portray feelings of sorrow as well as jubilation using different movements and singing techniques, along with Hilary’s memorable visual images.
Handel’s music, like that of his contemporaries, is rich with beautiful lyrical melodies, exclamatory passages and very tricky fast runs of notes. We were taken through techniques to help us with these passages such as singing as if on a waterslide. Or imagining one was Fagin or a magician with a special a secret when singing ‘will be revealed’. Such imagery brought new insights to the music.
During the halfway break, with the now famous, spread of Henley Choral Society members’ delicious cakes, singers chatted to each other. A couple of the medical workers from the Royal Berkshire Hospital told me they would now be singing some Handel as they walked along their hospital corridors. Finally, the day finished with a run-through of all the choruses we had practised before an invited audience.
At the end, singers poured out of the church, smiling and praising the organisation, Anita D’Attellis, the pianist and Hilary Campbell, the workshop leader. ‘Hilary made this a memorable day’ and ‘I loved her suggestions how to get the most out of this music’. Hilary said she had been impressed by the enthusiasm and joy that pervaded the day. At which point, the sun appeared and streamed through the windows. A joyful end indeed.
Watch the video from the Workshop on X here
If you would like to hear this oratorio sung with an orchestra in Henley, come and listen to Henley Choral Society sing Handel’s Messiah on Saturday 30th November at 7pm at St Mary’s Church. Information and tickets here
