Ahhhhh!!!

There seem to be a LOT of silent monks singing The Hallelujah Chorus lately, as I spotted at least a dozen on YouTube alone! LOL. Must be one of their favorite renditions. I watched some of them, and many of them were much more polished than the video I posted here… but I like mine because it’s done by kids and they make it very fun.

Then today, I visited Karen’s blog who had posted a video of The Hallelujah Chorus as done by students in Alaska. Wow! These kids are terrific and I laughed out loud a number of times.

What a great video!

I looked up the history of Handel’s Messiah and found it so intriguing that I thought I’d share it with you. Handel’s full name is George Frederic Handel, and he was born in Halle in 1685. He’d been a relatively successful composer, but had difficulties with his royal patrons (all music composers were supported by various royal houses of Europe at this time) and sometimes lost funding. Handel also became severely ill (so he said) from a stroke, and suffered debt, financial ruin, and severe depression. Handel retreated to a private life in London and stopped composing music.

George Handel with King George of England.

In his depressed state, Handel came across a piece of music written by Charles Jennens. The work was entirely Biblical verses put to music. Handel read the verses and was “deeply affected.” He plunged into creating a composition about the Messiah, Jesus Christ: the first part involved prophecies from the Old Testament (the book of Isaiah, specifically) that gave information about Christ’s coming to earth. The second part dealt with Christ’s birth, ministry, death, and resurrection. The third part centers on the New Testament book of The Revelation, and concerns Christ’s next coming. Handel’s work is SIMPLY AMAZING. When Handel wrote the Hallelujah Chorus, he said, “I did think I saw heaven open, and saw the very face of God.” That is exactly my response, too. It’s nothing short of inspiring.

Handel performed Messiah for King George of England, who was so overcome with awe and praise for the King of kings and Lord of lords that he stood up when the singers sang The Hallelujah Chorus of the composition. Back in those days, when the king or queen stood up, EVERYBODY stood up, so the entire audience stood with him for the entire performance. This has become a tradition whenever The Hallelujah Chorus is sung.

Me, I want to jump up and down. HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!

No one knows why starlings (also called grackles) flock together like this. There’s even a special name for it: murmuration. The results is a breath-taking black ballet in the sky.

Some girls were paddling along the River Shannon in Ireland and happened to catch starlings in action. You can hear them gasping in awe during the birds’ formations. Wow!

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

According to Wired.com,

Starling flocks, it turns out, are best described with equations of “critical transitions” — systems that are poised to tip, to be almost instantly and completely transformed, like metals becoming magnetized or liquid turning to gas. Each starling in a flock is connected to every other. When a flock turns in unison, it’s a phase transition.

Well, we already know what it’s like. But WHY do they do it? I think this is more difficult to answer, something that probably goes beyond mere biology.

COOL!!!

Considered a “threat” to the Roman Empire, an old man is banished to a remote island. With wrists and ankles shackled and two guards watching over him, he recounts the dramatic story of Jesus … the miracles … the dangers … and how the world would be forever changed!

Please join with us in helping to produce, translate and distribute this timeless movie, as told through the eyes of the last surviving disciple John the Beloved, in the languages of restricted nations worldwide.

You can donate to help the film makers get the movie translated into other languages.

Another very worthy film and cause, the Jesus Movie by Campus Crusade for Christ, has reached untold millions of people around the world, often with miraculous events. The Jesus Movie is a magnificent movie. It’s a live-action film starring Brian Deacon that details highlights in the life of Jesus. It’s a spectacular film. You can watch it online FOR FREE as well as get the DVD. And the website has really great stories- how they dub the movie into other languages, conversion stories from around the world. Go and see it!

It’s by Ray Stevens, that barrel of laughs himself. As a favor to you, my dearly devoted reader, I’ll post the Gitarzan video for you. So that YOU TOO can have this song playing through your head for the next five days, haha!!

Ray Stevens wrote the song in 1969. Can you tell? It was at a time when other songs like “Alley Opp” and “Ahab the Arab” were played.

WHAT was WRONG with that generation?! :blink:

lol, you know I’m kidding, right? heehee

The song was apparently VERY popular in North America. In 1969, “Gitarzan” rocketed to the #8 spot on Billboard in the U.S., and #10 in Canada. Other countries were burning the vinyl disks and cleansing their ears with vinegar.

Have a great day!

Babeeeeee….. bah dah bah baaabbb babababa…. Babbeeeeeee……whoa! Babbeeeeeee….

That’s so swell of them, but I could never make such terrific videos. These are just superbly hilarious videos. Enjoy!

Hat tip Sparkle.

By the way, is that critter their pet?! :blink: