Messiah: Georg Friderich Handel
A Calvary Tradition
In 2006, Calvary's performance
of Messiah, held on December 10, marked the 82nd performance
of this mainstay of choral literature. Dr Adolph Steuterman, Organist/Choirmaster
1919-1972, began this Calvary tradition on December 10, 1922. At the
time The Commercial Appeal, Memphis's local newspaper, wrote "800 hear Steuterman's majestic presentation...first complete
rendering in 25 years," and according to Dr. Steuterman's own
notes, "church packed, hundreds turned away." The second
performance was one week later at the Godwin Institute.
The third performance, but only the second at Calvary, was the following year. Again, from Dr. Steuterman's notes, "turned away 500-1000; heard by thousands on WMC radio.” The News Scimitar of December 10 of that year, states "It is regrettable that the limited seating of Calvary church prevented the 1,000 or more who arrived too late to hear this beautiful rendition given “The Messiah” Sunday evening..."
For the next several years Messiah was alternated with performances of Johannes Brahms Requiem or Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah during Advent. It was in the 1930s that Messiah became an annual tradition.
One of the urban legends holds that in 1934, when a huge storm blew off the roof above the organ chamber, Calvary did not present a Messiah. In reality, the performance went on, right on schedule, with a portable reed organ. Steuterman's brother, Harry, a noted organist in his own right, played.
In 1979, Calvary Choir, under the direction of John L. Hooker, Organist/ Choirmaster, presented Messiah at the Orpheum Theatre under the patronage of The Friends of the Orpheum and First Tennessee Bank on Sunday, December 23, at 2:00 p.m. There were nearly 90 in the chorus and 13 in the orchestra. Charlotte McLain at the harpsichord and David Ramsey at the organ (could the organ have been The Mighty Wurlitzer?).
The size of the choruses has varied greatly, from 39 to the largest of 111. Participation in Messiah Chorus has always been open to the community. Members of Calvary's choirs have been joined by choir members from First Baptist Church, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, First Congregational Church, and many other Memphis area churches. The orchestras, according to records, have always been 18-20 members.
Contact the Music Office for more information about Messiah at Calvary.