OGDEN -- The public is invited to participate in the 30th anniversary of the annual "Messiah" sing-in at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Ogden Tabernacle, featuring the interfaith Wasatch Master Chorale as the host choir.
Those of all religious affiliations who participate may either sing along to the score by George Fredrick Handel, recognized as the most famous oratorio today, or simply experience being surrounded by the music known for touching lives.
"It's the best Christmas music there is," said Karen Miller, who, along with her husband, Steve, has organized the event for all three decades.
"All this other stuff that's playing on the radio 24 hours a day doesn't hold a candle to Handel," she said.
Steve Miller, of South Ogden, said participants each year have made the event an annual must-do for their holiday season.
"I have people who say every year, 'Now I can start my Christmas.' They say it's not the same without 'Messiah.'"
Chorale director Dennis Ahern said people for centuries have been drawn to "The Messiah" because "the music is just so glorious."
"To sing those choruses just elevates you," he said. "It's quite a phenomenon."
He said there is a host of regulars who come to the event who have their score and come to sing in.
Organizers say the score is available at area music stores, which often order extra copies this time of year because they know that the sing-in is coming up.
Steve Miller said the score, which is 252 pages, retails for about $8 this year.
While similar sing-ins take place throughout the Top of Utah each year, Karen Miller said the Ogden event is unique in that the orchestra is made up of volunteers from the community instead of an organized orchestra.
"We invite people to come and sit in and play," she said.
"We have many people who have played in professionally," Steve Miller said, explaining that others have learned the piece over the years.
He said some families have brought up-and-coming youngsters to the practices over the years to train them to one day participate.
Classical music enthusiasts today recognize the piece, written in 1741 in London, for creating an awareness and acceptance of classical music for modern audiences today.
According to Randall J. Brown, in his book "Experiencing Christ: Your Personal Journey to the Savior" (Horizon Publishers, $11.99), Handel had experienced fiery trials that prepared him to write the masterpiece of his life.
Brown documents numerous failures in Handel's career that caused him to push himself to the point where he had a stroke.
Quoting Stefan Zweig's "The Tide of Fortune" and Spencer J. Condie's "The Song of Redeeming Love," Brown said one day while Handel was feeling a deep emptiness, he discovered that poet Charles Jennens had left him a parcel containing verses from the King James Bible foretelling the birth of Jesus Christ.
"The words seemed to lift the darkness he had been under for so long," Brown states.
Historical accounts state that Handel was consumed by writing the work for the next three weeks in his study, barely eating or sleeping in the process.
According to an article on the Web site theviolincase.com, one of Handel's servants reported his concern over the composer's lack of appetite during this time.
The servant also reported startling the composer by walking in on him as he finished writing "The Hallelujah Chorus," noted by several sources as the best-known number from "The Messiah."
The account states that with tears streaming down his face, Handel turned to his servant and cried out: "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself."
"Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth," states some of the words in the chorus. "The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Hallelujah!"
Ahern said the majesty of the music of the choruses is in their ability to bring alive the messages they contain.
For instance, in chorus 26 of "The Messiah," "All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray," Ahern said the music sets the stage by its sound reminiscent of sheep.
"You picture sheep just bounding in all different directions and then we come together," he said.
"The Messiah" remains sacred music traditionally presented for Advent, Christmas and Easter.
"It's just filled with the music reflecting the meaning of the season," Ahern said.
The Ogden sing-in will last about an hour and a half, say organizers. A number of the solos and duets throughout the piece have been omitted for the performance to shorten the duration of the piece.
The Ogden Tabernacle is at 2133 Washington Blvd. in Ogden.
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