Morris Choral Society to perform baroque/holiday mix in Morristown, Dec. 14-15

The Morris Choral Society. Photo by Vincent Marchese
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From the Morris Choral Society:

MORRIS CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENTS:
“Baroque Jewels and Songs of the Season”

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON THE GREEN IN MORRISTOWN

TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY – DEC. 14 at 8 PM AND DEC. 15 at 3 PM

The Morris Choral Society presents its annual holiday concert, Baroque Jewels and Songs of the Season, on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at 8 PM and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 PM, at the historic Morristown United Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place on the Green.

Noted conductor and MCS Music Director Jason Tramm will lead the Morris Choral Society and featured guest soloist, organist Patrick Jones, in the 16th Annual Holiday Spectacular Concert.

Organist Patrick Jones. Photo courtesy of Music America.

Christmas masterworks from the 17th- and 18th century open the concert, featuring the rarely performed Messe de Minuit pour Noël or Midnight Mass by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, followed by selections from George Frideric Handel’s Messiah.

The infrequently performed Messe de Minuït pour Noël, H 9, is a true musical gem. Charpentier was particularly drawn to writing Christmas music, producing instrumental carols and Latin oratorios on Christmas themes. Composed in 1694, the delightful work is perhaps Charpentier’s best-known work after the Te Deum, H 146.

Selections from Handel’s Messiah conclude the first segment of the concert. Considered by many to be the quintessential herald of the holiday season, Handel’s inspired musical fireworks encompass some of the most glorious choral writing ever created. Among the selections performed will be For Unto us a Child is Born and the Hallelujah Chorus.

Following intermission, the concert will feature the popular ensemble Express Male, an independent vocal ensemble and a regular fixture at MCS concerts.

Members include singers Wayne Walters of Morris Plains, Rob Walters of Long Valley, Chip Wood of Basking Ridge, Al Perkins of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, John Collins of Raritan, and Bud Leppard of Morristown, with collaborative pianist Ken Rapp from Convent Station. Holiday songs to be performed will include Sing We Now of Christmas, See Amid the Winter’s Snows and Various Themes on Fa-La-La.

The MCS Holiday Spectacular Concert concludes with a suite of carols and songs including The Beautiful Sing; Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day; Eight Days of Light; Jingle All the Way and Behold that Star.

Morris Choral Society is funded in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by the Masterwork Music and Art Foundation.

Tickets for either performance are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors (60+), and $15 for students. They may be ordered by calling 908-459-5223 or online at www.morrischoralsociety.org.

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