Original Concept by Marin Alsop
Co-Arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson
The Concordia Orchestra, Marin Alsop, conductor
Morgan State University Choir, Dr. Nathan Carter, director
Featured Solo Vocalists: Vivian Cherry, Lillias White, and Thomas Young
Marin Alsop, with colleagues Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson reimagined Handel’s Messiah. Too Hot to Handel captures the essential core of Handel’s famous piece and reinterprets it with chords of R&B, jazz, and gospel. The end result is a dynamic and uplifting celebration that must be experienced to be appreciated.
This piece was commissioned by Marin Alsop and the Concordia Orchestra around 1992, and it premiered at Lincoln Center that year….and continued to play there every holiday season for about 10 years. It’s also been performed by many other orchestras, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Carnegie Hall 2010), and shows no signs of “slowing down.” The piece was re-composed and arranged by myself and arranger Gary Anderson….we each literally wrote half the charts! I’ve also had the pleasure of playing in the rhythm section (Hammond B-3) every chance I get — It’s really a ball.