klwilliams

Last night was Stanford's annual Sing-Along, Play-Along Handel's "Messiah" evening. I've been to one before, many years ago, but hadn't had the time to go in a decade. Last night, since I'd had advance notice via

ppfuf, I'd made sure to have tickets in hand for me and Chaz, and had arranged to ride with our friend Dave, who with his trumpet was going to be part of the "Play-Along" feature of the evening. We found the last handicapped parking place, got there just as the doors were closing (though there was still a long line of people trying to purchase tickets at the door), and found seats with the mob of Crosstonians there.

I've sung in a school choir before, only because the much more interesting class I'd signed up for got cancelled. That was enough for me to learn that I really don't sing well in choirs. I was an alto, though, so pretty much all I had to do was hum during the songs. Still, just being in a mob of people singing such beautiful songs, and joining in on the choruses, was powerful. We didn't sing the whole symphany, though there were arias for each of the four parts, including one that was essentially for bass and trumpets. Dave shown in that one, being one of only three trumpets present. It was glorious.

The finale of the evening was singing the final chorus, followed by two renditions of the "Hallelujah" chorus. All of this in the Stanford Memorial Church: