Seattle’s First 'Messiah' Performance
A chorus of 175 voices packed Plymouth Church in a landmark cultural event that hinted at the city's future as a musical center.
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Never in the musical history of Seattle has there been such a markstone as that laid down on Friday evening in the Plymouth church, when Handel's sacred oratorio, 'The Messiah,' was rendered by a chorus of 175 voices, first-class soloists and able accompaniments on organ and piano, under the direction of Mr. H. H. Joy, musical instructor at the state university. Last November, Mr. Joy extended a call for the formation of a chorus to render 'The Messiah,' and after a hearty response and the personal pledge of the chorus for thorough work, he succeeded in not only rendering the great master's work in an excellent manner but also to raise the enthusiasm of the audience to such a pitch that they called for a repetition of the 'Hallelujah' chorus. The Seattle public has never before turned out in such numbers to a concert, the church being packed and standing room being scarce.
“The Seattle public has never before turned out in such numbers to a concert, the church being packed and standing room being scarce.”
This concert was a defining moment in early Seattle civic culture, signaling that the frontier town was maturing into a place for high-art institutions. Today, the local choral and classical scene remains a major pillar of the city's arts sector, though it has long since moved from small church venues to larger concert halls.
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