Skipping Elijah - "Not My Type Music"

A Personal Testimony by Marshall Sanders

 

Felix Mendelssohn must have felt the same way.  Much of the music of his era was boring to him--predictable, like music had always sounded.  When creative people are bored, they usually create something new, which Mendelssohn did.  He broke many of the molds, adding entirely new melodies, using harmonies from the day's pop culture, and trying things that made him feel good.  Mendelssohn's music, therefore, especially toward the end of his life when he wrote "Elijah," is warm, melodic, passionate, engaging, and most of all "romantic," which is why he was considered one of the primary bridging composers into the new romantic era.

 

Mendelssohn wrote Elijah for the common man of the mid-1800s.  He had this incredible desire to please his listeners and keep them entertained.  Although Elijah is considered one of the great masterworks of all time, and even though it challenges both singer and instrumentalists to new heights, it is also easy to listen to and thrilling from the first note.

 

As your church's music director, I personally invite you to drop any preconceived notions you might have about "classical music," and come hear this presentation.  I'm so proud of our choir--they have never worked harder in their life.  Our our own orchestra has risen to achieve a level of performance that is usually reserved for professional symphonies.  This achievement is therefore a "one of a kind," and one we hope the majority of our church will share in. 

 

If you are still unsure about attending, grab one of the choir members when you see them and ask them their opinion.  Be brave and express your hesitation; see what they might want to tell you about the experience they have had.

 

Remember that we are now offering "free" tickets to both the Friday night and Saturday afternoon performances so you can be guaranteed a seat.  We anticipate capacity attendance both times, so want to make sure that our friends and family have a place.  Tickets are available after each morning worship services and are also in the church office throughout the week.  We simply ask two favors, if you find later that you do not plan to use a tickets, please return it because we did not print extras.  And we're only honoring tickets until 20 minutes before the concert.  At that time we will allow the public in without a ticket.  So get a ticket, come plenty early, and enjoy some of the most beautiful and inspiring music ever written!