The Soundtracks of My Life---Mozart Requiem: "Domine Jesu"; The Messiah: "And He Shall Purify"; Elijah: "Lord, Bow Thine Ear to Our Prayer"

Back in my younger days, I performed both these oratorios---not as a principal of course; I didn't have that sort of talent.  But I did love singing in the chorus, even though my music reading skills were set at "illiterate" and I often had to just mouth the words.  My ear wasn't that reliable either.  Even so, I fondly imagined that it would all eventually come to me.  It didn't, which is just as well, as I only ever had a passable voice. 

I always seem to favor the songs that aren't quite so widely loved as the usual standards.  Hearing these really took me back.

This is my favorite chorus from The Messiah, "And He Shall Purify."  There's no particular reason for it---the verse isn't a favorite.  I just love the music. 

My favorite from the Mozart Requiem Mass in D Minor  is 'Domine Jesu.'  I love the power, and the grimness, and the swing of it, but the best part is the angelic "Sed signifer sanctus Michael...." that initiates the interim quartet. 

This last is from Mendelssohn's 'Elijah.'  When I was a teenager, my music teacher picked several girls to perform "Lord, Bow Thine Ear to Our Prayer," so I got to sing it.  I loved a lot of the music from "Elijah," but that was my favorite.

Lubbock, Texas has some fine singers, I'll tell you that: