2012's Palm Sunday Worship Service will celebrate the work of:
Georg Frideric Handel's
"Messiah"
(Part III)
and feature the talents of:
Thais Schaller, soprano
Karen Geer, mezzo soprano
K'idar Miller, tenor
Andrew Cook - Feltz, baritone
the Choir of the First Unitarian Church
and
the Chamber Orchestra
Georg Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah is probably the best known and most beloved of all large scale choral works. The libretto was constructed by Charles Jennens, a wealthy landowner with literary and musical interests who was a great admirer of Handel. Jennens arranged selected texts from the Bible into a narrative and commentary on the life, passion, and resurrection of Jesus. Handel received the libretto in July of 1741 and found it very inspiring. Working with astonishing speed, he began composing the music in August and had completed the score by September 12. Messiah received its premiere to great acclaim in Dublin in April of 1742 and was first heard in London a year later. In the next fifteen years, Messiah enjoyed annual performances under the direction of its composer, and after his death, it gradually became the most widely performed choral work in Western music. We are delighted to offer Part III, often called the “Easter Portion,” of this glorious masterpiece for this year’s Palm Sunday Music Service. Although we have often heard arias and choruses from this oratorio at our worship services, our last performance of a complete portion of this work was twenty years ago, in 1992, on the 250th anniversary of Messiah’s first performance. Soloists Thais Schaller (soprano), Karen Geer (mezzo soprano), K’idar Miller (tenor), and Andrew Cook – Feltz (baritone), will be heard with the Choir of the First Unitarian Church and Chamber Orchestra. We hope you will all join us on April 1 at 11:00 am to share this stirring and timeless music.* * * * * * * * *
We invite all choral singers to consider joining the Choir of the First Unitarian Church in Brooklyn. The Choir sings at almost all Sunday services during the regular Church year (September through early June.) Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Music Service is a high point of the year. Spring Concerts often feature lighter fare, ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to Broadway and popular song. The Choir is open to anyone with a pleasing singing voice who is interested in working toward performing choral music. The Choir rehearses at 9:00am every Sunday morning that we perform. We hold ten to twelve evening rehearsals each year to prepare for special programs. Singing in the choir is a fun and rewarding way to become involved in the church community. For more information contact music director Bill Peek at 718-624-5466. [caption id="attachment_1359" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Our beautiful, historic organ and choir loft."]
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