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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1980 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1980 contains information about the 43rd 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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1979 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1979 contains information about the 42nd 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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1978 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1978 contains information about the 41st 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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1977 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1977 contains information about the 40th 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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1976 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1976 contains information about the 39th 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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1975 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1975 contains information about the 38th 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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1974 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1974 contains information about the 37th 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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1974 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program (Passion and Resurrection)
Music Department
This music event program from 1974 contains information about the 36th 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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1973 Ursinus College Messiah Performance Program
Music Department
This music event program from 1973 contains information about the 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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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.
