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Quiz about SingaLong with Handels Messiah

Sing-a-Long with Handel's "Messiah" Quiz

We are members of a choir singing Handel's well-loved oratorio. From weeks of rehearsals we are now very familiar with the complete work and are ready for performance. Time to warm up the vocal chords!

A multiple-choice quiz by JaneofGaunt. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
JaneofGaunt

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
244,901

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
747

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The tenor soloist has just finished the air/aria "Every valley shall be exalted" and we are waiting for the conductor's downbeat on the chorus which follows. Stand up straight and get that breathing under control; the altos are about to lead off with which chorus? Hint

"Arise, shine, for thy light is come"

"And he shall purify"

"And the glory, the glory of the Lord"

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion"

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Question 2 of 10

2. The soprano soloist is singing an air which is lilting and lovely, and it's nice for the choir to have a breather, but did we just hear her sing about worms destroying her body? What is the title of this air?
Hint

"Thou shalt break them"

"How beautiful are the feet of them"

"I know that my Redeemer liveth"

"For behold, darkness shall cover the Earth"

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Question 3 of 10

3. Okay, the alto and soprano soloists have just finished their one-two air about Christ feeding his flock like a shepherd, and that we should come unto Christ, all of us who are heavy laden. And we are preparing to launch into one of the more difficult choruses. Which chorus follows, which is led off by the sopranos? Hint

'And with his stripes we are healed"

"His yoke is easy, his burden is light"

"Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened"

"Hallelujah"

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Question 4 of 10

4. Oh my, this is the chorus that gave all of us trouble in rehearsal, but we've finally mastered it. Which word is particularly tricky in "For unto us a Child is born?" Hint

For

given

born

Child

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Question 5 of 10

5. We've just finished "For unto us a Child is born" and we get to take a breather, thanks to the orchestra. What does the orchestra play following this chorus? Hint

The Pastoral Symphony

The Angel Pastorale

The Shepherd Lullaby

The Stable Symphony

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Question 6 of 10

6. The alto soloist has just finished the air "He was despised" and we have to focus in on three choruses that follow one right after the other; "Surely he hath borne our griefs" "And with His stripes we are healed" and "All we like sheep have gone astray".

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. The tenor soloist is coming to the end of the air "Thou shalt break them" and we are preparing for what is undoubtedly the best known chorus in the oratorio, the chorus "Hallelujah." What occurrence could distract the singers during the first few bars of the chorus? Hint

Members of the audience are permitted to take photographs only during this chorus.

This is the end of Part II and some of the audience will try and leave quietly.

The audience rise to their feet for the duration of the chorus.

The tenors enjoy their part so much they tend to get carried away.

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Question 8 of 10

8. We're coming close to the end of the Oratorio now and we launch into the chorus "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." We begin Largo: "Worthy is the lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood." We then move to the next line Andante: "to receive power and riches, and strength and wisdom and glory and honour and blessing." Did we sing this last line correctly?

Yes

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Question 9 of 10

9. Moving immediately from the chorus "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" the altos lead off into an impressive "Amen."

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following employs a solo trumpet to accompany an air for Bass? Hint

Why do the nations so furiously rage

The people that walked in darkness

Thou art gone up on high

The trumpet shall sound

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: "And the glory, the glory of the Lord"

This is the first chorus in "Messiah."
"And he shall purify" is another chorus which is led off by the sopranos. "Rejoice greatly" is an air for soprano. "Arise, shine" is taken from the alto air "O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion".

Answer: "I know that my Redeemer liveth"

Indeed the soprano sings - "...and though worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh shall I see God...." This opens Part III of "Messiah" which treats of the resurrection of all mankind to the glory of God.
"How beautiful are the feet" is another great soprano solo.
"For behold, darkness shall cover the Earth" is a Recitative for Bass and "Thou shalt break them" is an air for Tenor.

Answer: "His yoke is easy, his burden is light"

This chorus makes use of Handel's wonderful way with vocal runs; they sound so easy, yet are a challenge to less than professional choirs. "And with his stripes" is a chorus in Part II, which tells of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. "Then shall the eyes" is an alto recitative in Part I which incorporates the prophecies of and the birth of Jesus.

The chorus "Hallelujah" ends Part II.

4. Oh my, this is the chorus that gave all of us trouble in rehearsal, but we've finally mastered it. Which word is particularly tricky in "For unto us a Child is born?"

Answer: born

Again, Handel has used a long vocal run on "born" and each section of the choir has to master it. Very effective towards the end when the sopranos and altos as well as the orchestra harmonize the run together.

5. We've just finished "For unto us a Child is born" and we get to take a breather, thanks to the orchestra. What does the orchestra play following this chorus?

Answer: The Pastoral Symphony

The gentleness of the Pastoral Symphony following the jubilation of "For unto us a Child is born" brings us quietly into the stable and the birth of Jesus.

Answer: True

This is the only place in "Messiah" where three choruses are sung one immediately after the other. The first is sung Largo e staccato, the second Alla breve, Moderato, and the third Allegro moderato. If our choir is singing the complete Oratorio, we only have a very brief break, a recitative by tenor solo, before the next chorus.

Answer: The audience rise to their feet for the duration of the chorus.

Many of us will have heard the tale of King George II rising to his feet during this Chorus and thus establishing the custom of audiences standing, since all stand if the king stands. It is interesting to note, however, that the The Canon of Westminster (1985) claims that it was at a commemorative performance of "Messiah" in Westminster Abbey in 1791 that George III, a devoted music lover, rose to his feet, and thus it was he who unwittingly began the tradition followed by generations.

Answer: No

The line is: "to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing"; by the time the choir has mastered this powerful chorus, we get the words in the right order.

9. Moving immediately from the chorus "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" the altos lead off into an impressive "Amen."

Answer: False

The basses lead off the Amen. They are joined by the tenors, altos and sopranos in that order, the choir and orchestra concluding "Messiah" in jubilant praise.

10. Which of the following employs a solo trumpet to accompany an air for Bass?

Answer: The trumpet shall sound

"Messiah", Handel's most successful and best-known oratorio was composed in the year 1741, from August 22nd to September 14th, 24 days. It was not performed, however, until the following year, on April 13th, 1742 in Dublin, Ireland, with Handel conducting the performance in person.

It is touching that Handel's last public appearance on April 6th, 1759 was at a performance of "Messiah" during which the grand old man suffered a fainting spell and died eight days later. He is buried in Westminster Abbey and on the wall above the grave is a statue of Handel holding a copy of the aria, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."

Source: Author JaneofGaunt

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