Athens Choral Society

Rehearsals began September 6th for the ACS fall/Christmas concert as well as a performance of Messiah by G.F. Handel (see below) with the Athens First United Methodist Church . The Christmas shows are an Athens tradition and the music for this season is a singer's delight!

2005 ChristmasConcert
Monday, December 12th, 7:30 p.m.
Free Admission

Fantasia on Christmas Carols (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
In Vaughn Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, written in 1912, a number of English traditional carols are interwoven to form an unusual and imaginative composition of almost symphonic scale; it is not the same old Christmas material, yet is so fully and beautifully done that this work will become a favorite for years to come.

For Unto Us a Child is Born (J.S. Bach)
"This good, well-proportioned, tuneful and well-executed work deserves to be played more often. It is a small masterpiece." - John France, MusicWeb International

Carols for Choir and Hammered Dulcimer
With special guest Lucille Reilly, the Dulcimer Lady, www.thedulcimerlady.com

1997 National Hammered Dulcimer Champion,
1995 and 2003 International Autoharp Champion,
1995 Mountain Laurel Autoharp Champion,
1994 National Autoharp Champion

Click Here for an MP3 sample clip of the Dulcimer Lady's music

ACS Joins the Athens First United Methodist Church
in a Performance of Messiah, by G.F. Handel!
Sunday, December 4th, 7:00 p.m.
Free Admission

Nearly 100 singers, a 25 piece orchestra and soloists Callie Waller (soprano), Julia Butler-Mayes and Deana Shuman (mezzo), David Gresham (tenor), and Justin Birdsong (bass).

Part One, the Christmas portion, will be performed in its entirety along with the Hallelujah Chorus.

Part one was written in six days, and the entire Messiah was written by Handel in a short 24 days. When visited by a friend during those days, he was found sobbing with intense emotion and was quoted as saying "Whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it, I know not."

The power of the Messiah continues to this day. In fact, the entire work has been said to "do more to convince thousands of mankind that there is a God about us" than all the theological works ever written.

For many, Christmas is not complete without hearing the Messiah. Make your Christmas complete by joining us!

* *For entire story, see press.htm

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