Stopping Hallelujah

Why would a school cancel a performance of one of the most famous pieces of music ever composed? Janet Parshall expands on that question, in this week’s commentary.

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Episode Transcript

S1 (00:01):
George Frederic Handel's Messiah is one of the most magnificent
pieces of music ever composed. The Hallelujah Chorus is widely
recognized around the world, but this piece of classical music
was just too much for one school.

S2 (00:14):
Here to unpack present day issues from a biblical perspective
is Janet Parshall.

S1 (00:20):
In Finland, a concert planned for a school was cancelled
because it was going to perform a part of Handel's
oratorio The Messiah. The cancellation happened because one child objected
to songs about the life of Jesus performed at the school.
The National Non-Discrimination and Equality Tribunal decided the non-Christian pupil
should be compensated $1,562 because they were offended. However, the

(00:43):
city's Education and Welfare Committee stepped in and voted 6
to 5 that no payment was due to the offended
school students. The cancellation has drawn outrage from several MPs
who were quick to let their opinions be known. The
Minister of Social Security posted what kind of society is
it where schoolchildren are not allowed to hear a Baroque
concert and learn about cultural history. He went on to
say such hypersensitivity does not secure rights but limits opportunities.

(01:07):
Another minister said the decision was dangerous and crazy. The
situation must now be clarified and the legislation and guidelines
amended if necessary. A member of the European Parliament asked
it's starting to be a joke. Do we think of
giving up our cultural heritage and education and schools? And
yet another MP noted the intersection between Finland and Christianity,
stating this is especially evident in old works, from compositions

(01:30):
to visual art. Listening to or watching them is not
practice or proclaiming religion, it's increasing civilisation. The history behind
Handel's Messiah is fascinating. The oratorio was originally an Easter offering,
debuting in Dublin on April 13th, 1742. Over 700 people attended,
with the audience mesmerised from the moment the tenor followed

(01:50):
the mournful String overture with his piercing opening line comfort ye,
comfort ye my people, saith your God. Soloist went back
and forth with the chorus, hearing lyrics like he was
despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief. And behold, a virgin shall conceive and
bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, God
with us. And the people that walked in darkness have

(02:13):
seen a great light. And they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death upon them hath the
light shined. The lyrics weren't written by Handel himself, but
our scripture texts arranged by Handel's friend Charles Jennens, who
was a member of the society for the propagation of
the gospel and an Evangelical Believer. This libretto was made
up entirely of Old and New Testament texts, designed to

(02:34):
present the Christian message in a single piece, which it
does with majesty. A school in Finland may cancel a
concert with Handel's Messiah, but for over 280 years, the
music and the words of that oratorio remind us why
we sing Hallelujah. Those are my thoughts. I'm Janet Parshall.

S2 (02:51):
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In the market with Janet Parshall. Aug.