On to the final days of our St. Patrick's Day countdown! We've examined some of the places and symbols of Ireland and this 1910 postcard features another one, the Green Harp Flag.
For today's music we look to Ireland not as a source but as a venue for one of the world's most beloved compositions, Messiah. George Frederic Handel composed his oratorio in London in less than four weeks. He chose Dublin as the site of the premiere because his works in the past year had met with a mediocre reception in London. On April 13, 1742 Messiah was greeted enthusiastically at its first performance. That enthusiasm spread quickly to London and throughout the western world. Here is the version of the Hallelujah chorus as it was performed in Dublin in 1742.
Our Irish literature question for the day is a simple directive, one of my favorites:
Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges to the past.
Can you name the author? The book? And an extra pint next Tuesday if you know who speaks the line.
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