Countdown to Christmas Day 5:
Sing Christmas Songs

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" — Buddy the Elf.

Today we are excited to share some singing from our students!

Señora Hendriksen's 2nd grade Spanish Immersion class at the Iroquois Campus singing "Joy to the World/ alegría en el mundo"

 

Team 3 students at the Evergreen Campus singing "Silent Night,"

 

The Chamber Chorale at the High School singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.

From GRCHS Choir Director, Candice Sytsma:

The students learned in the lesson that Handel's Hallelujah Chorus is only one song within The Messiah, a larger work called an oratorio.

Part I is what is usually sung during Christmas time, with texts from the Old Testament of the prophecies of Christ's birth. We then traditionally sing the Hallelujah Chorus phrase "The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ", with the interpretation that Christ has come to our world as a baby, and, "He shall reign forever and ever, King of Kings and Lord of Lords" — that he is the awaited Messiah to be King of all Earthly kings.  

Interestingly though, the Hallelujah Chorus was actually written to be sung in Part II, after the resurrection of Christ with text originally from Revelation 11 and 19. Handel's intent was for the Chorus to ring as a magnificent conclusion to the larger picture, that this world is now the new heaven and Earth of our Lord, where He shall reign on the throne forever and ever. (Roger A. Bullard, "Messiah: The Gospel according to Handel's Oratorio").

What a beautiful image we all have to look towards!

We continue to join the tradition lasting decades and generations to sing the Hallelujah Chorus at GRCHS.  No matter what is going on in our world, we can take comfort and have joy knowing that HE shall reign over all, Hallelujah!