The song of hope presented to global neighbors
The Church of God Messiah Orchestra closed the year 2011, giving hope to our global neighbors who were driven to despair. “The 17th Messiah Orchestra Tour Concert to Help Flood Victims in Thailand and Earthquake Victims in Turkey” was for comforting the Thai victims who were suffering from the worst flood ever and the Turkish victims who were greatly harmed by an earthquake. The Messiah Orchestra, which actively held the charity concert to help the earthquake victims in Chile and Haiti in various cities of Korea in 2010, prepared the three times of concert for two days—December 20 and 21—in Suwon Gymnasium in 2011.
ⓒ 2011 WATV
People from all walks of life—politics, economy, art, and broadcasting—came to the concert and united their minds. Even two hours before the concert, the citizens formed long lines enough to encircle the Suwon Gymnasium. The concert received great attention and fervent response from the citizens, and it was attended by an audience of 27,000.
The performance of the Messiah Orchestra, which was more improved than last year, came up to audience’s expectations. The orchestral music of the New Song, “O Eternal Eden,” overwhelmed the audience from the start as it described the magnificent kingdom of heaven full of wonder with mystical and lively melody together with perfectly harmonized chorus.
ⓒ 2011 WATV
Then classical music that is familiar to everybody was staged: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 which is well known as “The Destiny,” Suppé’s Light Cavalry Overture that depicts the fast, cheerful and magnificent march of light cavalry, Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2, and Johann Strauss I’s Radetzky March through which we can enjoy the essence of marches. And they impressed the audience with the newly arranged Korean songs, “Longing for Mt. Kumkang” and “Arirang.” “Amazing Grace” and the “Holy City” accompanied by the barbershop quartet moved the audience to tears with its beautiful lyrics displaying God’s grace together with solemn music and the rich tone of instruments.
The New Song is the highlight of the Messiah Orchestra concert. The New Song which is all written and composed by the members of the Church of God is the song of the soul to praise Elohim God—the Savior in the age of the Holy Spirit, with gratitude and joy of salvation. The Messiah Orchestra played the New Song, “He Has Come as King David,” “All You, Pass Thru the Red Sea,” and “The Staff of Moses,” which were spotlighted in the previous tour concert, with improved skills and style, and delivered the power and love of Elohim God who save mankind. Receiving the curtain call after the performance, they played Rossini’s Overture to Wilhelm Tell and left the stage amidst hearty cheers.
ⓒ 2011 WATV
The audience who were greatly impressed by the performance expressed their emotion in an excited voice, “I could feel that they wanted to deliver hope to people who have pain in their hearts through their music,” and, “It seems that the Messiah Orchestra is a messenger delivering heaven’s blessing and love through their music. I hope that they will continue to give the sound of hope to many people living in this hard and tough world.”
The Messiah Orchestra, which consists of 100 members from the Church of God, was founded in October 2000 to deliver the glory of Elohim God through beautiful New Songs. It has also helped our global neighbors in difficulties, and contributed to society through their concerts. Now it is planning to extend into a large orchestra with 120 members to convey the love of God to the whole world.