In 1937, the Ursinus College Choir under the direction of Dr. William F. Philip, director of music, gave a modest performance of the Christmas section of Handel's "Messiah." The success of the program was so great that in the following year it was decided to present a more complete and ambitious performance of the work. The College's musical resources were supplemented with professional vocal soloists and orchestral musicians. Thus, in December 1938, the tradition of "Messiah" performances at Ursinus College was born. Continued by John H. French, chair of the Music Department, these performances became a musical high point of the academic year for many decades.
Collected here are performance programs and related items that document the history of the "Messiah" at Ursinus College throughout the years. Listed in each program are the conductor, solo performers, and choir members. Note that the collection is incomplete and not all programs are represented.
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1972 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1972 contains information about the 35th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1971 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1971 contains information about the 34th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1970 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1970 contains information about the 33rd annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1969 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1969 contains information about the 32nd annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1968 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1968 contains information about the 31st annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1966 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1966 contains information about the 29th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1965 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1965 contains information about the 28th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1964 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1964 contains information about the 27th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1963 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1963 contains information about the 26th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1962 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1962 contains information about the 25th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1961 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1961 contains information about the 24th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1960 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1960 contains information about the 23rd annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1959 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1959 contains information about the 22nd annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1958 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1958 contains information about the 21st annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1957 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1957 contains information about the 20th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1956 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1956 contains information about the 19th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1955 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1955 contains information about the 18th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1954 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1954 contains information about the 17th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1953 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1953 contains information about the 16th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1952 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1952 contains information about the 15th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1951 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1951 contains information about the 14th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1950 Ursinus College Messiah Performance (Norristown) Program
Music Department
This event program from 1950 contains information about a performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Norristown Senior High School by the Music Department of Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1950 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1950 contains information about the 13th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1948 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1948 contains information about the 11th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.
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1947 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1947 contains information about the 10th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the performers and conductor as well as the order of each piece of music.