Like eggnog, Old Spice gift sets, and a new sweater from Mom, Handel’s Messiah has become synonymous with Christmas. It’s now hard to believe that the piece wasn’t exactly popular from the outset, and that librettist Charles Janssens hated Handel’s effort at the time and dissed it, saying "I shall put no Sacred works into his hands. Thus to be abus’d." (Even back then writers were never satisfied.) Perhaps it was the mere 25 days that Handel took to compose the music that messed with Janssens’ shizzle. After 1750, however, it gained 50 Cent-like popularity, which it has retained to this day. The ESO will perform the masterwork Dec 19 and 20 and will feature the U of A Madrigal Singers, conducted by Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff. Dr. Ratzlaff, head of the Department of Music at the University of Alberta had a few minutes to give us the 411 on a choral tip.

Supa Old Skool: Why has the Messiah become so popular at Christmas?

Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff: The first part of the oratorio includes the Christmas story. It was initially programmed around Easter but started to gain a significance and cult following which carried its popularity to modern times.

Will you conduct a choir differently than an orchestra?

I tend to use the same techniques in both but understanding that one needs to know all of the dynamics and properties of the voice, that instrument. Although most of our conducting graduates tend to learn choral conducting techniques, they are–and should be–prepared to use their techniques in orchestral conducting as well.

What do you love the most about choral conducting?

I love a lot of things about it. In my younger days, I stuck to a more general choral repertoire. And I still love the works from that period, but I’m also performing more contemporary music. For instance, we have this concert coming up with a performance of Vaughan Williams Symphony in C, but there will also be a new work performed by Toronto composer Christos Hatzis. It’s in a few months, and it’s still being composed. Then you wonder what it will be like when you get it. If it’s extremely complex, then I’ll have to book more rehearsal time to work around it. Things like that make it very exciting. I’m also a performer as well–piano a little bit. But I really enjoy using my voice. [Dr. Ratzlaff is a baritone.].

Why has classical music has become less popular with the average person?

I think to the average eye it seems that classical music has taken a downturn or has become less popular in popular culture. But there are many groups and societies in Edmonton that are keeping the music alive. I think the hard part though is the marketing, because there are so many forms of entertainment. We are always trying to get more people in the seats, but once they come and experience it they understand how great it is and come back.