"Messiah from Scratch" where people just turn up, are provided with words and music and sing Handel's Messiah with no previous rehearsal,

I'm told by people that have done that, jmh, that it is a glorious experience for those taking part - but all have siad that they didn't think it would be so goo d for anyone listening!

I'm all for doing things from scratch, although there are definite disadvantages as well. The only reason that my best-selling book has not yet been published is that it took me ages to make the paper, and grinding the pigments for the ink has also been time consuming. And I haven't even caught the goose, yet, in order to make the pens.