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Messiah and Magnificat Performance Print E-mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/19/03

Greenville Choral Union and Orchestra to Perform Handel’s Messiah and Rutter’s Magnificat in 73rd Season Concert on Sunday, December 7 GREENVILLE, Ill. – The Greenville Choral Union and Orchestra will begin their 73rd season with a performance of selections from George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah and John Rutter’s Magnificat on Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Greenville, Ill., Free Methodist Church.

Performers
The 105-voice Choral Union and the 40-piece Orchestra includes members of south central Illinois communities in addition to students, staff, and faculty members from Greenville College. Vocal soloists from the Choral Union will be featured. Nine professional instrumentalists from the St. Louis area will join local orchestra members. Tom Stampfli, who is in his third year as Professor of Music and Music Department Chairman at Greenville College, is the accompanist for the Choral Union. Greenville resident Pam Goodenough, a music teacher in the Bond County Unit #2 School District, will serve as organist. Dr. Jeff Wilson, Director of Choral Activities at Greenville College, will direct the concert.

Program Overview
The concert celebrates the music of the popular Baroque composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1750) and will feature selections from his most famous sacred work entitled, Messiah: An Oratorio. The first part of this masterpiece – “The Prophecy and Promise of the Redeeming Messiah” – and the ever-popular “Hallelujah Chorus” will be performed. During the second half of the program, the chorus and orchestra will present a setting of the “Magnificat” by British composer John Rutter. This piece, premiered in 1990 in Carnegie Hall, is a musical setting of the canticle of the Virgin Mary as found in the Gospel of Luke.

Seating for the concert will begin at 3:30 p.m. An offering will be taken to help defray the costs of the concert. Nursery care will be provided for children ages 5 and under. For those who are not able to attend the performance, the concert will be broadcast live on WGRN, 89.5 FM. Immediately following the concert, President and Mrs. Mannoia will host a reception at Joy House for the community.

More information on the performance may be requested by contacting the Greenville College Department of

CONTACT:
Jeffrey Wilson
Associate Professor of Music
Greenville College
(618) 664-6561
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Music at (618) 664-6560.