Volume 1, Number 2 February 15,
2004
The Story, Art and Music of Handel's ISRAEL IN EGYPT
Dear Friends,
Welcome to this
second edition of
our VOICES e-newsletter.
Two March concerts and a
special event this Wednesday!
VOICES has been off to a
thrilling start this year. We are immersed in preparations for our March
13th and 14th performances of G.F. Handel's Israel in
Egypt. This stirring choral masterpiece sets the familiar story of the
Israelites' exodus from Egypt in dramatic and powerful music.
Many people are familiar with Handel's Messiah, with its stunning choruses and
solos. Israel in Egypt was written three years earlier, in 1738, and is among
Handel's most dramatic oratorios, especially for the chorus. Patterned by
Handel after the ideal of the Greek chorus, the singers act in turn as
narrators, characters, and poets reflecting on the action.
Our concert dates and venues are:
Saturday, March 13, 8:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church of Morrisville
771 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Morrisville, Pennsylvania
Sunday, March 14, 4:00 p.m.
Pennington Presbyterian Church
13 South Main Street, Pennington, New Jersey
Tickets are available at the door, or reserve tickets by calling 609-637-9383 or emailing info@voiceschorale.org and leaving your name and contact information so that we may confirm your request.
General admission is $18; seniors and students $15; children 12 and under $8.
A family discount and New Jersey Arts Pass discount are available.
To interest audiences in this rarely performed and
lesser known work, VOICES is holding a special event on Wednesday,
February 18th to perform a sampling of the choruses. There's also a
possibility of a conversation with the composer himself, his librettist, and
Music Director Lynne Ransom! Please join us for this lively evening of
information, music and refreshments. "The Story, Art and Music of Handel's
Israel in Egypt will take place at the Timberlane Middle School Cafetorium,
West Delaware Avenue (off Route 31 near the Pennington Market) in Pennington,
New Jersey. The event is free and refreshments will be served.
RSVP by phone (609-637-9383) or
email is appreciated.
We hope to see you there!
A Festive Close to 2003:
Lessons and Carols
Over 500 people in four venues attended our
Lessons & Carols concerts in December. With musical performances by the
VOICES Chorale, soprano soloist Rochelle Ellis, the Burlington Brass, and
organist Kathy McNeil, directed by Dr. Lynne Ransom, audiences were moved and
inspired.
Blending the traditional and the new,
the December concerts showcased a work of local composer Joel
Phillips, Professor of Music Composition and Theory at Westminster
Choir College of Rider University. The soaring and glorious Psalm 108,
Ashira af k'vodi brought tears to the eyes of performers and audience
alike. Click here for
more on Joel Phillips and this work on our web site!
CD of the December 2003
Lessons & Carols
Watch for the CD of the Lessons & Carols
concerts due out later this year - you may want to get several copies for
yourself and for your friends!
About VOICES
Dr. Lynne Ransom, D.M.A. is the founder, music
director, and conductor of VOICES, which was begun in 1987 as a non-profit,
professional music organization. VOICES performs the choral masterworks of the
past along with the music of our time, even the premieres of modern composers,
and ranges from renaissance to contemporary -- from spirituals and show music
to the sacred and classic.
VOICES always welcomes new members
who love to sing, or who wish to support the organization through their
donations of time and resources. Call 609-637-9383, send
e-mail or visit our Web
site at www.voiceschorale.org to
find out how you can get involved.
In our next newsletters...
Our next edition will feature information
about our upcoming children's musical composition workshop and
contest.
VOICES' 15th Annual Music Composition Contest for Children
Postmark date for entries: April 1
For children ages 5-12
Chorale members Elizabeth Forbes, Laurie
Tema-Lyn, Linda Weaver, Helen Kull and Bob Kull and Music Director Lynne Ransom
contributed to this edition.
You have received this newsletter by email because you are (or once were) a member of VOICES or have provided us your email address at a concert or in other communication. Please forward this newsletter to share our news with your friends! We plan to issue these newsletters from time to time to keep you up to date and informed about events and people in VOICES 16th Season. See below for subscription information to add or remove your name from our mailing list.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter, if you did not receive it
directly from VOICES.
Unsubscribe
if you do not wish to receive future newsletters from VOICES.