4 • Augustana Observer* Friday, December 15, 2000 Messiah: A Christmas musical tradition Evan Kuchar At this point, chord and basso continuo. you might be won- Accompagnato refers to a recitative StaffWriter dering: "What is that is accompanied rhythmically and the Messiah?" The harmonically by the orchestra. An ária is his past weekend, the Augustana Messiah is an ora- another solo vocal segment that takes a College Music department collabo- tório. The genre passage and expounds upon its meaning Trated to put together George consists of many using musical means. Árias generally Fredric HandeFs Messiah. The three different sections have orchestral accompaniment. Unlike performances, on December 8, 9, and that are centered recitatives, árias repeat words or phras- 10, marked the i20th year of this on a specific theme es in different musical lights to add Augustana Christmas tradition. or plot line. In the specificity to their definition. A typical The event has also become a per- case of the ária presents a first section expressing a sonal and familial tradition for the audi- Messiah, there is certain mood followed by a second sec- ence and the members of the Handel no real plot, but a tion in contrast to the first. Finally, the Oratório Society. Tradition must, then, series of medita- first section is repeated adding orna- be the reason why the vast majority of tions and reflec- mentation and improvisations. the audience consisted of community tions using solely Continuing Messiah's propensity members with no real ties to the scripture as libret- towards tradition during the Hallelujah Augustana community. Typically, at a to. It is divided into chorus, the entire audience stood up to concert, the audience consists of fami- three sections, LINDSEY KOTZ/STAFF respect the glory of the music. lies and friends of the performers. In symbolizing the Eric Ashcraft, the tenor soloist, sings his part with a Emotions flowed freely as seniors this case, however, the performances Trinity, the Passion full choir behind him during Messiah. faced the melancholy reality that their were aimed at the surrounding commu- of Christ, and the days of celebrating the birth of the nity members who attend Messiah Triumph or resurrection. way of telling a story or reciting a pas- Christian Messiah at Augustana were annually in Advent celebrations. For a Within each of these large-scale sage from the Bible. The result is a clear coming to a close. Paul Grizzard, a vocal large portion of the audience, the sections is a myriad of smaller segments understanding of each word. Within the performance major in the choir, gave his Messiah experience is a tradition that that recite or expound upon Biblical recitative is the secco and the accompa- final performance of the Messiah and extends a long way back. The audience texts. These citations are ali in one of. gnato. Secco means that the soloist sings said, "Today I gave my last performance, seemed to know the location and mean- three forms: the recitative, the ária, and with no real accompaniment punctuat- and it's only now that I realize how much ing of every ária, recitative, and chorus. the chorus. A recitative is a declamatory ed by material provided by the harpsi- I'm going to miss it." Exploring the depths of the Underworld until very recently. Emerson has moved "Shudder/King of Snake." It bégins with minutes, it begins to take the form of Kate Estwing on to do more individual DJing, and distorted, melting guitar loops, and then "Cowgirl," with its signature "every- StaffWriter Underworld has begun working on yet a single chord holding through until the thing, everything" voice loop that con- another álbum, due out in the summer beat forges the audience into the song. tinues throughout the song. As very live concert has its attributes, of 2001. The underlying bass stays the same "Cowgirl" fades, the synth notes from right? The enthusiastic fans, the They have received most of fame's throughout the song, but the elements "Rez" come back around to end the Efavorite songs, the improvisational attention for their singles "Born Slippy" used make a fresh difference when com- song. The notes wind down slowly to moments. These things are ali repre- from the movie Trainspotting and pared to the original recording. For signify the end is near, and the song sented in Underworld's newest CD, "Cowgirl" from the movie Hackers. example, a high bell-like bleep is a new ends with a chord that crescendos just entitled Underworld Live; Everything, Then, with the release of Beacoup Fish additive. Another extra ingredient: in before it is cut off. Everything (JBO/V2 Records). But how in 1998 and Everything, Everything the middle of the song, Hyde's rhythmic So Underworld Live; Everything, can this dance/techno group be any this year, the British group is being voice begins to pulse on its own, singing Everything is a suitable title for this more exciting live than on a studio noticed more in the States. For example, "fire and a hand between us" repeatedly. álbum to wear. There are a few reasons. recording? One way is through techno- at CDNow.com, "a [recommended] gift This is a vocal improvisation like no First, the obvious: the repeated lyrics at logical advancements: multiple sound for a ClubKid" is Underworld's other, sounding only as Underworld can the end of the CD. Second, the CD can boards, looping, voice manipulation. Everything, Everything, listed along sound. The music begins to envelop his be considered the best of Underworld: it Underworld uses these extremely well with Moby's Play and Fatboy Slim's voice like flames, leading to a burát of shares the group's recognizable songs, throughout the CD. The band's innova- Halfway Between the Gutter and the beats to match Hyde's syncopation. as well as most of its singles. Third, it tive, unique character also has a notice- Stars. When the song ends, it hardly seems as gives the listener a complete scope of able impact on their live performances. Everything, Everything's songs though 12 minutes have passed due to what Underworld has done and can do, Underworld consists of two men: are taken from three different venues of its intensity. and exhibits their style with the preci- Karl Hyde is the singer and guitarist, Underworld's 1999 world tour. The CD ends with "Rez/Cowgirl," sion of an arrow to the middle of a bulls- and Rick Smith is the producer and Therefore, a few tracks blend into the ("Rez" is the single from Underworld's eye. "dance anthem generator," as quoted next, and some are distinctly separated first álbum, When I unwrapped the packaging from their web site, www.dirty.org. with silence. Dubnobasswithmyheadman.) First, to this CD, a sticker proclaimed, "The Underworld has also included DJ A highlight of the CD is "Rez" hypnotizes with its swirling, Definitive Underworld Experience." I Darren Emerson for most of the 199OS Underworld's energetic performance of uplifting synthesized notes. After a few do concur. An Assortment of Christmas vídeos to nibble on Jarmanese Torrance ing tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas Now on a good note, there is blush several times during this movie. (1965). The tree had two dying brown Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Santa Then, there is this one scene where a Arts & Entertainment Editor branches, and the Peanuts gang hung a actually has to go to court to prove who child gets his tongue stuck to-a polé, and couple of ornaments on it. As a child I he is. I knew Santa truly existed, and ali it almost looks like the child's tongue is h it's that time of year again. You really felt sorry for them. However they these years people have been telling me going to be ripped out. Yum! know the time when you spend made the best of it, and found beauty in that I'm crazy. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Othe little money you do have on such an ugly tree. Then there is It's a Wonderful Life (1964) is the cutest claymation movie presents rather than beer. It is also the With ali the squirrels around cam- (1946), where a man finds himself yada, ever made. I can never remember ali of time when your credit card becomes pus, National Lampoon's Christmas yada, yada. See it for the 35th time if you the reindeers' names, but I can sing your worst enemy. But, there is hope. Vacation (1989) may come to mind. must. most of the song in a demonic way: Just curl up by the fireplace with a hot When the squirrel jumped out of the For some strange reason, the "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had cup of cocoa and pop in a great Christmas tree and attacked the whole movie with the most unbelievable plot is a very shiny nose, and if you ever saw it, Christmas video. family, I fell over laughing. My family a holiday favorite. How could anyone you would even say it glows, like a light Frosty the Snowman is a chil- gets real trees, and although no one ever leave Macaulay Culkin home alone on bulb. Ali of the other reindeers used to dren's classic that everyone can enjoy. I admits it, we check just to make sure. Christmas of ali days in Home Alone? laugh and call him names (like remember watching the movie when I If you still haven't gotten over The poor child has to protect his home Pinocchio). They never let poor Rudolph was five years old, and I started crying Halloween, Tim Burton's The from malicious thieves. This movie is a join in any reindeer games (like when Frosty's hat was taken away, and Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is real tear-jerker. Monopoly)." he turned into a puddle of water. My for you. Ali the Halloween characters get Last but not least is A Christmas Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole mother still gets excited when she sees it mad that Christmas gets so much atten- Story. If you have never seen this movie, Christmas (1965) is my favorite. There's on television. She knows ali the songs by tion so they decide to take over. A mem- I suggest you go rent it. This movie gives just something about little green men heart and often asks me to join in when orable scene is when the parents ask a whole new meaning to dysfunctional that I find so attractive. Then therc's the kids sing, "Thumpidy, Thump, their son what he got from Santa, and he family. The story is about one man's Max, the dog. He's adorablc. Thump, Thumpidy, Thump, Thump. pulls out a shrunken head. This movie is childhood Christmas experiences. It is So there's my delicious assortment Look at Frosty go." O.K. I know my PG-13 unlike Silent Night Deadly Night kind of like an episode of The Wonder of movies for your sweet tooth. mother is a little bit strange, but there is (1984), in which Santa goes berserk and Years. The boy's father has an obsession However, watch out for those calories a great moral in this movie that survives kills a bunch of people with an ax. That with a lamp that resembles a woman's because I don't want you to gain weight. today even though the movie was made is ali you need to know. Personally, I've leg. The son wants a BB gun so he can Some of us are still trying to lose the in 1969—never be selfish. never seen the movie, but I have heard kill something. Also, the Santa in this extra, weight we gained during 1*11 never forget that pathetic-look- stories. movie has a very foul mouth. You may Thanksgiving.