MAC Music to Offer Handel's "Messiah"

Mineral Area College’s Community Singers and MAC Singers will present the holiday classic Messiah on Friday, Dec. 11, featuring 60 performers conducted by MAC Director of Choirs Harry Cecil.

The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church at 210 N. A Street in Farmington. This concert is free to the public and the group will be joined by The Rosewood Ensemble, a St. Louis-based professional string group.

“This is our exciting bi-annual event,” Cecil said. “There are very few musical compositions that are as popular and renowned as this masterwork. Unlike other pieces that were popular during their time, went away, and then re-emerged through 20th century scholarship, Handel’s Messiah was impactful in its inception, impactful after his death, and is still one of the most commonly performed oratorios in the world today! For our performance we will present Part I of Messiah, the scriptural landscape that leads up to the birth of Christ.”

In 1741, George Frideric Handel constructed the oratorio Messiah as a biblical chronicle following the full life of Christ; and although the work was first performed near the end of the Lent season—a few weeks before Easter—during Handel’s life, it became popular following Handel’s death to perform the work during the Advent season leading up to Christmas.

Cecil explained, through various positions and numerous countries, Handel had gained exposure to many compositional styles, inserting those influences into his Messiah masterpiece. 
 
“You can hear the impact of the Italian opera virtuosic style and the German cantata construction,” he said. “To help tie this compositional feature together, the MAC Winter Concert will also feature a cantata by another legendary composer, Johann Sebastian Bach.  Performing his Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61, Now Come, Savior of the Gentiles, is an appropriate compliment to Messiah.”
 
Cecil said Bach and Handel shared many similarities,  many of which are linked to their origins—both were born in 1685, both were born in Germany within a 150 mi. radius to one another, both were well-trained in their musical upbringing. 
 
“The differences, however, between these two historical figures is much more captivating,” Cecil said. “Despite their similarities, they never met during their lifetimes.  Also, Handel was well-traveled.  Conversely, Bach remained in the German region for his entire life.  Handel strived for fame and recognition.  Bach was satisfied in his appointments as church organist and concert master.  Handel was a noted performer.  Bach was a content teacher.  Handel’s music was celebrated in his time.  Bach’s music, including over 200 cantatas he composed, were mostly historically-researched and celebrated posthumously in the 20th century.  Marrying the mastery of both of these composers on one concert will be both entertaining and academically engaging.”
 
Cecil said everyone is welcome to join the MAC Community Singers and MAC Singers in their winter concert celebration of these two masters of music, “it’s sure to amaze and inspire in this most wonderful time of the year.”  In addition to these two choral masterpieces, the Chamber Singers group will present wonderful holiday music to further enhance your festive mood.
 
For more information about the Winter Choral Concert, please contact Harry Cecil, (573) 518-2230 or hcecil@mineralarea.edu.