By Amber Plumer 04.11.2014

The Milligan community will experience something quite unique this weekend as it hosts the United States premiere of a new version of Handel’s Messiah.

 

The Milligan College Concert Choir and Orchestra is partnering with Central Baptist Church, Grandview Christian Church and Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church to perform this timeless piece.

 

“We will be performing the second part of Messiah, which describes Jesus’ passion and death, with words taken straight from the scriptures,” said Conductor Noah DeLong. “This will be a very meaningful and moving concert as we anticipate Good Friday and Easter coming up.”

 

The inspiration for this event came from a 2010 performance at England’s Gloucester Cathedral. The event was sponsored by the John Newton Project – an organization that uses Handel’s music alongside Newton’s life and works to spread the gospel. Marylynn Rouse, a British scholar with the Project, will be giving the introduction to each performance this weekend.

 

“We had longed to see others take up the idea of using Handel’s’ Messiah in combination with Newton’s sermons,” said Rouse. “It is a great joy to share with Johnson City Central Baptist and Milligan College in using this as an outreach for the gospel and broadening awareness of the great truths of Jesus, the Messiah, by combining musical skills with Newton’s rich Biblical expositions of the words.”

 

Delong said the concert will bring new light on the Easter message. Assistant conductor of the concert choir Ben Davenport echoed Delong’s sentiment.

 

“The show is a great way to remember Christ's sacrifice and resurrection during this season,” said Davenport. “Audiences are also in for a treat to hear how this music relates to John Newton's sermons and God's amazing grace that he gives to us so freely.”

 

Davenport describes Handel’s music as “intriguing, with rich, lush harmonies and text settings that paint a picture with the music and scriptures.”

 

“This production differs from anything I have ever performed from Messiah,” said Davenport. “While studying the music for this performance, I found myself seeking out the meaning behind each movement, and the reasons Handel wrote what music he did according to John Newton's sermons. It is truly something remarkable to put into context.”

 

Other Milligan faculty members involved include Richard Major, who will be narrating the show and Charlotte Anderson, who will be singing alto.

 

There will be two performances in Seeger Chapel: Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 13 at 3 p.m.

 

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door for general admission. Student tickets are $5. Tickets are available for purchase in the Milligan College bookstore. SFP credit is also available for both performances.