The Singers in the Seats

Fifty-plus people strong and determined to “break their bonds asunder,” the choir struggled to get the rhythm of Song No. 41 in Handel’s "Messiah."

“As long as you get the rhythm, you will be right,” conductor David Herberg told them. “The right timing is more important than the right note.”

A few more repetitions, and the rhythm sticks. The catch? The persistent singers are not the performers of the upcoming 20th anniversary Spring Sign of Handel’s Messiah; they are the audience.

This "Messiah" is a sing-along, meaning the audience sings Handel’s lyrics to the accompaniment of a professional orchestra.

The , which hosts the Spring Sign on Sunday and Monday at 7 and 7:30 p.m., respectively, has had these informal audience rehearsals for the last 10-12 years, Herberg said.

Many passages have long runs of sixteenth notes, which can be challenging without prior practice, he said.

“We were getting comments afterward of the type: Wow, I didn’t know it would be so difficult,” he said.

For the rehearsals, the singers sort themselves into sections: soprano, alto, tenor or bass. Herberg practices with the entire group for 1½ hours and then keeps one section for some extra practice.

With about three songs for each of the four rehearsals, Herberg gets to practice only about 12 of "Messiah’s" 53 songs each year, but he said that even partial preparation still makes a singer feel more comfortable.

“Then there are 12 songs that you know better than you would have otherwise,” he said.

The songs covered in the rehearsals change from year to year, so that returning singers have a chance to practice different parts of the oratorio.

One of those regulars is Rita Larson, an alto who has attended the rehearsals and performance of the Spring Sing for the last 10 years.

“To me, it’s a little heaven here on earth,” she said.

Larson said she first came across "Messiah" at a performance of the San Jose Performing Arts during Christmas—and loved it. After the performance, she found the fliers for the Spring Sign and liked the idea of getting a chance to practice the songs at the informal rehearsals.  

“So I kept the flier for six months,” she said.

Herberg recommended that interested singers listen to recordings of Messiah at home and take a look at the notes to familiarize themselves with the music.

“The more familiar with it you are, the better time you’ll have,” he said. But to those too busy to prepare, he recommends, “Just come and enjoy the music.”

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