Messiah-Hallelujah 彌賽亞-哈利路亞

《彌賽亞》寫於1741年,是古今最大的神曲,每年聖誕節都會在世界各地被演唱,慶祝耶穌基督的誕生並歌頌祂的救世精神。韓德爾在寫這首神曲時,足不出戶不眠不休,常常被感動得淚流滿面,淚水浸濕了手稿,趴在桌上呼喊:「我看到天門開了。」本來韓德爾想藉著這首神曲挽回歌劇事業的失敗,結果後來打消了賺錢的念頭,封筆不再寫歌劇,而只寫神曲。 Continue reading

Joy to the World 普世歡騰

Joy to the World” is a popular Christmas carol.  The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts’ collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. Watts wrote the words of “Joy to the World” as a hymn glorifying Christ’s triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating His first coming. Only the second half of Watts’ lyrics are still used today. Continue reading

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is a Christmas song recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby who scored a top ten hit with the song. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” has since gone on to become a Christmas standard. Even in December 1965, astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell while on Gemini 7 requested “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” be played for them by the NASA ground crew. Continue reading