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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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.
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1946 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1946 contains information about the ninth 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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1945 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1945 contains information about the eighth 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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1944 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1944 contains information about the seventh 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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1943 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1943 contains information about the sixth 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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1942 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1942 contains information about the fifth 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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1941 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1941 contains information about the fourth 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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1940 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Flyer
Music Department
This music event flyer from 1940 advertises the third annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" at Ursinus College. It lists the featured soloists as well as the admission price.
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1940 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1940 contains information about the third 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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1939 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1939 contains information about the second 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.
