Rare 233-year-old Messiah manuscript sings again in Katikati

"A bit of magic" was created in Katikati at the weekend through a combination of musical talent, research and an extraordinary, rare manuscript.

At St Paul's Presbyterian Church on Saturday, top musicians from the University of Waikato gave two performances of a reduction of composer George Frederick Handel's Messiah as recorded in a recently rediscovered 233-year-old manuscript.

The performances were presented in a mock 18th-century parlour setting in tune with the manuscript's original purpose as the score for a "parlour performance" - essentially a light version - of Messiah intended to be played by amateur musicians in private homes.

The manuscript - one of only four known copies in the world - was exhibited in the church in concert with the performance.

People examine the 233-year-old manuscript on display at St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Katikati. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Exhibition organiser Paula Gaelic, Western Bay Museum manager, said the event brought "a bit of magic" to the small town community.

About 150 people attended the afternoon performance and 100 came to the evening show, she said. Most were locals.

"It brought people to tears. There was one lady who loved the afternoon performance so much that she came back for the evening."

Gaelic hoped to make the performance and exhibition an annual Christmas event.

Displaying the manuscript brought international significance to the event, she said.

Waikato researcher Dr Rachael Griffiths gave short lectures on the history of the manuscript, which was rediscovered in Tauranga, before each performance.

Paula Gaelic (centre) with manuscript owners Colin and Stephanie Smith. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Tauranga's Colin and Stephanie Smith discovered the manuscript 10 or 12 years ago in a pile of music bought decades earlier as part of an auction lot from an estate in Christchurch.

Colin Smith said Saturday's performances were "brilliant".

"The audience was delighted and so was I. Handel is a wonderful composer and it was marvellous to hear fine musicians bring it all together."

He said the parlour performance version of Messiah had probably had not been played in New Zealand for 100 years.

The manuscript was first printed in 1784, the 25th anniversary of Handel's death. He had composed Messiah in 1742.

The musicians from the University of Waikato perform Handel's Messiah parlour performance arrangement. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Waikato University performers

- Amy Thomas, soprano
- Cecily Shaw, mezzo
- Koli Jayatunge, tenor
- Ian Campbell, baritone
- Dr Lara Hall, violin
- Dr Martin Griffiths, cello
- Dr Rachael Griffiths-Hughes, harpsichord