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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Scratch ''Messiah''}}<br />
[[File:Royal Albert Hall - Messiah from Scratch 2015.JPG|upright=1.35|thumb|Scratch Messiah, Royal Albert Hall 2015]]<br />
A '''Scratch ''Messiah''''', '''People's ''Messiah''''', '''Come Sing ''Messiah''''', '''Sing-it-yourself ''Messiah''''', '''Do-it-yourself ''Messiah''''' ('''DIY ''Messiah'''''), or '''Sing along ''Messiah''''' (the first two British and Australian usage, the last three common in North America) is an informal performance of [[George Frederick Handel|Handel's]] ''[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]'' in which the audience serves as the unrehearsed [[choir|chorus]], often supported by a carefully prepared core group. Orchestra and soloists are usually professionals, though their services are often donated for [[benefit concert|charity benefits]]. The "scratch" name derives from the idea of cooking or [[Scratch building|building from scratch]].<br />
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==History==<br />
[[File:Crystal-palace-handel-1857.jpg|thumb|The Great Handel Festival at [[The Crystal Palace]], 1857]]<br />
Scratch Messiah performances have their origins in the British tradition of [[choral societies]], when large choruses of untrained amateur singers could participate in performances of large-scale concert works. Handel's Messiah was originally composed with charitable purposes in mind, having grown out of the 1749 performance of the [[Foundling Hospital Anthem]] and Handel's annual Easter performance of Messiah in the chapel of the [[Foundling Hospital]] in London. ''Messiah'' was composed so that it could be performed after a limited number of rehearsals, and thus lent itself well to the large Handel Festivals held from the 1820s onwards in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and London. At these gatherings, large, amateur "scratch" choirs were formed from members of the public who travelled to the cities from all over Britain.<ref>{{cite book |title=Choral Societies and Nationalism in Europe |year=2015 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=9789004300859 |pages=105–106 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sw55CgAAQBAJ&q=Scratch%20Messiah%20tradition%20choir&pg=PA105 |access-date=31 October 2019 }}</ref><br />
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==Performances==<br />
[[File:Scores used in a singalong performance of Messiah at Georgetown University 2.jpg|thumb|Extra copies of the score provided to audience members during a performance at [[Georgetown University]] in 2024]]<br />
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Such performances have become a tradition among music lovers in the English-speaking world, especially around Christmas time, and appear to be developing a following in the Netherlands and China as well.{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}} Often a "Sing-along ''Messiah''" is organised in a concert hall or church, where a choir has rehearsed the music, but the public are invited to bring scores and join in. On a smaller scale, a '''''Messiah'' party''' may take the form of a group of friends gathered around the piano in someone's home, and this is typically sung entirely ''[[sight reading|a prima vista]]''. Usually these are informal events, though occasionally there is a dress code: formal concert dress or even 18th century period costume.<ref>{{cite web |title=Costumes |url=http://www.messiahsing.org:80/costumes.htm |website=messiahsing.org |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010190536/http://www.messiahsing.org:80/costumes.htm |archive-date=10 October 2008 |date=10 October 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
One example of a large-scale event is the "Do-It-Yourself ''Messiah''" held in [[Chicago]] since 1976, organized by the International Music Foundation. It is held in the [[Harris Theater (Chicago, Illinois)|Harris Theater for Music and Dance]]. There is a volunteer orchestra and hired soloists, and the audience serves as the chorus.<ref>{{cite web |title=DIY Messiah |url=http://www.imfchicago.org/diy/main |website=International Music Foundation |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722213132/http://www.imfchicago.org/diy/main |archive-date=22 July 2010 |date=22 July 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, [[Canadian Amateur Musicians|CAMMAC]] in Canada organizes "Come! Sing ''Messiah''" events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cammac.ca/english/Regions/Ottawa_Gatineau/Activities.shtml |title=CAMMAC - Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens amateurs du Canada |access-date=2010-06-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105034815/http://www.cammac.ca/english/Regions/Ottawa_Gatineau/Activities.shtml |archive-date=5 November 2010}}</ref> [[Avery Fisher Hall]] at [[Lincoln Center]] is another large-scale annual event, with professional orchestra and soloists. It uses nearly two dozen conductors chosen from various choirs in New York City, who each conduct one selection from the work.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} A similar event, among the first in the US, has been held in Lexington MA since 1962.<ref>{{cite web |title=Messiah Sings |url=https://www.masterworkschorale.org/home/messiah-sings/#.ULjrDIXJlAc |website=Masterworks Chorale |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719215851/https://www.masterworkschorale.org/home/messiah-sings/ |archive-date=19 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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The largest regular performance in the UK, the "Messiah from Scratch", is held annually at the [[Royal Albert Hall]], London. This event, which now attracts more than 3000 singers each year, was first held in 1974. From 1979 until 2009, the performance was conducted by [[Sir David Willcocks]].<ref name="trbc">{{cite web |title=How it all began |url=http://www.trbc.co.uk/about-us/how-it-all-began.htm |website=The Really Big Chorus |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726005125/http://www.trbc.co.uk/about-us/how-it-all-began.htm |archive-date=26 July 2010 |date=26 July 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Scratch Orchestra]]<br />
*{{Wiktionary-inline|from scratch}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[http://choralwiki.net/wiki/index.php/Messiah%2C_HWV_56_%28George_Frideric_Handel%29 Editions and links at CPDL]<br />
*[http://ks.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/c/cc/IMSLP162690-SIBLEY1802.17529.6eef-39087018850539score.pdf pdf public domain score]<br />
*[http://savedsounds.com/Messiah/Messiah_parts_mp3/index.html Learning aid MP3 files of choral parts ]<br />
*[http://www.youraccompanist.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=112 Piano accompaniments for Messiah Major Choruses]<br />
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{{George Frideric Handel}}<br />
{{Messiah (Handel)}}<br />
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[[Category:Choirs]]<br />
[[Category:Messiah (Handel)]]<br />
[[Category:Choral festivals]]</div>imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao