November 28: Introduction to the 2020 Advent Project
Welcome to the 2020 Advent Project
THE MESSIAH
In the process of discerning the direction for this year’s Advent Project a friend suggested turning to the scripture verses found in George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. What a joy it has been spending time with these passages as they’ve come alive through the brilliant score that we believe God inspired Handel to write. Messiah is often cited as the most-performed and best known work of classical music ever written. Of course, there are some who feel the popularity of Messiah makes it little more than a passé holiday tradition. Yet, British composer and musician David Owen Norris, sees Messiah as a sophisticated musical masterpiece filled with “grace, monumentality and mystery.” We agree. It is a work of timeless beauty that at each encounter offers fresh and stirring insight.
Handel, a musical genius of German heritage, became a naturalized British citizen in 1726 where the monarchy and other distinguished clients were his patrons. A vast output spanning a wide variety of musical forms characterized his career. Handel was originally most invested in the Italian Opera genre and wrote over 40 operas during his lifetime. At a certain point, however, interest in opera began to wane in London. As a result, Handel fell into debt and was threatened with debtors’ prison. So in 1741 when he received a commission from the Lord Lieutenant of Dublin to write an oratorio (a large-scale religious choral work performed without costumes, scenery or action) on the life of Christ, Handel welcomed the opportunity.
The oratorio was a risky new musical form, but being creative, Handel rose to the occasion completing the 259-page score in just 24 days. Handel composed Messiah at a time when he was being threatened with financial ruin. It is no accident that his most profound and lasting contribution came in the midst of personal crisis. Passionate artistic works are often birthed through the channels of suffering. Fortunately, the Irish debut of Messiah was a rousing success. Received funds from the endeavor freed 163 inmates from debtor’s prison and made it possible for Handel to reverse his own financial misfortunes.
Scripture passages for Messiah were selected by Charles Jennens, a devout Christian and colleague of Handel’s who hoped a new oratorio on the life of Christ might counter the rise of deism in the British Isles. Jennens divided the oratorio into three parts: the first foretells the coming of Christ--his birth and life; the second deals with his passion, death, resurrection and ascension; while the third portion offers hymns of gratitude--songs of thankgiving for all that Christ has done. Like his contemporary Johann Sebastian Bach, Handel wrote Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone) at the end of the Messiah transcript. And over the years, Messiah has proven to be one sustained, resounding hymn of praise to the glory of God.
Bible teacher, John Piper, argues that holiness “is the quality of perfection and infinite value,” while glory is “the manifest beauty of [Christ’s] holiness. Glory is the infinite beauty and greatness of God’s manifold perfection.” Piper goes on to say that the glory of God as perfectly reflected in Christ is “the greatest thing in the universe.” By focusing on God’s glory, Handel and Jennens offer a majestic portrait of Christ, a timeless savior who meets every longing and satisfies every need. More than any other book of the Bible, Jennens quotes from Isaiah, the prophet who was consumed with the glory of God. Old Testament scholar Drew Hunter writes, “It’s no surprise that a repeated command throughout Isaiah is to ‘sing for joy.’ This is the fitting response to what we find here, for Isaiah displays for us God in all his holiness, the gospel in all its grace, and our future with all it’s glory. Isaiah is a treasure because it helps us treasure Christ.”
We warmly invite you to join us over the next six weeks as we delve into artistic contemplation, prayer, and the spiritual truths found in each entry. While all of the Scripture texts from Messiah appear in the Advent Project, because of the way topics are arranged on a weekly basis, not all of the verses are in chronological order. For this project, all of the scripture verses were taken from the King James Version as they appear in the Messiah score. All Messiah texts are bolded while surrounding verses are not. This particular Advent Project, there are two musical selections each day. The first piece of music has been chosen by our resident musician, Rachel Glazener. The second piece of music is taken directly from Handel’s Messiah. In normal times, we would have highly encouraged you, your family and friends to attend one of the many live annual performances of Messiah in your area. Instead, we recommend that sometime during the next six weeks, you set aside a couple hours to view an online performance of the entire Messiah. We guarantee that your heart will be warmed and your spirit renewed. In these dark and troubling days we need an all encompassing vision of our wonderful Lord! To God be the Glory!
---Barry Krammes
Advent Project Scripture Curator
Professor Emeritus
Biola University Art Department
We are most grateful for all of the illustrators, artisans, fine artists, poets, authors, composers, and musicians who have contributed their talents to this project. We have attempted to include a multiplicity of styles, diversity of cultures, and wide range of denominations to create a rich tapestry of expression. Our team has spent dozens of hours culling through hundreds of musical compositions, works of art, and poetry in an attempt to bring a heartfelt meditative and worship experience to our subscribers.
A special thank you to our curators: Barry Krammes who selected the Scriptures and wrote the weekly introductions, N. Rountree who selected the artwork, Chris Davidson who selected poetry, and Rachel Glazener who selected the music for this year’s project. Also a special thank you to Dean of School of Fine Arts and Communication, Todd Guy; Eric Cho; and Rebecca Mott Patton.
Additionally, we encourage you to take advantage of the additional resource under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab, to give you biographical information on the artists, poets, composers, and musicians, as well as lyrics, song/composition titles, and artwork used in this Project
Finally - we are most grateful to those readers who have contributed financially to this wonderful endeavor. It is your continued support that makes these projects possible.
Thank you.
---- CCCA, 2020
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Transcript from Dean Todd Guy's Video Introduction
Hello, my name is Todd Guy, I have the privilege of serving as the Dean for the School of Fine Arts and Communication here at Biola. Over the years I know you, like I, have been blessed by the ministry of the Advent Project. Through quiet contemplation, prayer, through reflecting and meditating on the word, along with the guidance of the devotionals provided by Biola faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, we have been able to experience the hope, peace, joy, and love of the Advent Season. This year is no different.
I was asked to introduce this year’s theme. Barry Krammes, longtime professor, and now retired supporter of the Art Department and friend of Biola, has selected the Scripture verses found in George Friderick Handel’s oratorio the Messiah to serve as a guide for this year's Advent Project. I could not be more pleased with this theme.
As a former choral conductor, I have had the opportunity to conduct Handel’s Messiah more than 20 times during my career. It is a timeless piece. One reason it is timeless is because it’s text is all dawn from scripture. As Barry indicated in his written introduction, “the oratorio was a risky new musical form, but being creative, Handel rose to the occasion completing the 259-page score in just 24 days”. And no this isn't Handel’s original score, that would be priceless, but this score is priceless to me, because in these pages I find, as can you, the hope of the Advent season, we find the peace of the Advent season and we also find the joy and love of this wonderful season.
When performed in its entirety the oratorio is nearly 3 hours in length. As we look at the first song, what musicians call the opening recitative, we find these words; “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” These are the beloved words that the prophet Isaiah spoke to God’s children of Israel. Even though these were captive people in a foreign land, God emphasized the theme of comfort. “My people” refers to the people of God who are in a covenant relationship with Him. As we reflect on our world today; in the challenge of a world-wide pandemic, we know that the only true comfort that any of us have is through the Spirit of God. Just as then, these words still ring true today. It is only through a personal relationship with the Messiah that we find true hope, it is only through Him that we find everlasting and perfect peace, and it is only through him that we experience true joy and unconditional love.
The preface to the word-book which was published for the first performances in April of 1742, contains passages from both Timothy and Colossians which clearly sets the tone for the entire work: they read as follows:
And without controversy, great is the mystery of Godliness; God was manifested in the Flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached among Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge. (I Timothy 3:16, Colossians 2:3) reference this text on the screen.
So I invite you to join me over the next six weeks to explore, experience, and reflect on our “Messiah.” Thank you to those of you who have contributed to this year’s project. It's our prayer that as you delve into artistic contemplation, prayer, and the spiritual truths that are present in each of the daily entries, that you find the hope, peace, joy, and love of this very special season. May the Lord bless you and keep you during this most wonderful time of the year.