RECORDINGS

LABEL: MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE
CATALOG NUMBER: 002
UPC NUMBER: 888174495422
NUMBER OF DISCS: 1
RUNNING TIME: 57:43
YEAR RECORDED: N/A
CD RELEASE DATE: 2000
CONDUCTOR: GERALD H. EDMONDS
ORCHESTRA: MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA
CHOIR: MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE ORATORIO CHORUS
SOPRANO: CHRISTINA ROHM
FAITH BEAM
JULIE BRYENTON
ALTO: LAURA GRABER
TENOR: WALTER FAWCETT
JOY SAQUING
BASS: N/A
AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES

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DISC ONE

1. Sinfonia 4:05   
2. Recitative - Comfort Ye My People - Walter Fawcett 2:42   
3. Air - Every Valley Shall Be Exalted - Walter Fawcett 3:27   
4. Chorus - And the Glory of the Lord 3:06   
5. Recitative - Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive    - Laura Graber 0:26   
6. Air & Chorus - O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion - Laura Graber 5:22   
7. Chorus - For Unto Us a Child Is Born 3:46   
8. Recitative - There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field - Christina Rohm 0:15   
9. Recitative - And Lo, The Angel of the Lord Came Upon Them - Christina Rohm :21   
10. Recitative - And the Angel Said Unto Them - Christina Rohm 0:43   
11. Recitative - And Suddenly There Was With the Angel - Christina Rohm 0:18   
12. Chorus - Glory to God  2:00   
13. Air - Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion - Faith Beam 4:39   
14. Chorus - Surely He Hath Bourne Our Griefs 2:03   
15. Chorus - And With His Stripes We Are Healed 2:04   
16. Chorus - All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray 3:58   
17. Recitative - Unto Which of the Angels of God Worship Him - Joy Saquing 0:19   
18. Chorus - Let All the Angels of God Worship Him 1:30   
19. Chorus - Hallelujah 3:51   
20. Air - I Know That My Redeemer Liveth - Julie Bryenton 5:28   
21. Chorus - Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain 7:26
SITE RATING:  2/10
SITE REVIEW:  The Moody Bible Institute, who annually performs highlights from Handel's Messiah as part of their holiday tradition, put together this album, collected from various recent performances, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of said tradition, the sole unifying link being conductor Gerald H. Edmonds.  As such, there is a variety of soloists, choristers, and orchestral forces at work.  The opening Sinfonia is given a slow-to-moderate reading with much charm.  Tenor Walter Fawcett, who appears on the first two arias, gives a good uncommitted performance, lacking in tonal brilliance.  The first chorus gives the first true impression of the forces at work - collegiate-age students, with a predictably youthful, inexperienced sound - and with far too many participants for a clean recorded sound.  Alto Laura Graber doesn't impress - she sits on the phrases without any sense of momentum or line.  Soprano Christina Rohm, who appears on just four short recitatives, has plenty of brilliance, with a wide-eyed reading that often leans into sharpness.  Faith Beam has the most pleasing tone on the album, but sadly struggles on her melismas.  Meanwhile, poor tenor Joy Saquing is given a mere nineteen seconds in which to shine, and fails to impress.  Finally, Julie Bryenton chestily hoots her way through "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth".  Available through the Moody Bible Institute web site, or through CDBaby, this recording can be missed by all but the most ardent collectors.

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