Troy University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts will present part one of G.F. Handel’s Messiah for this year’s Sounds of the Season production on Tuesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. in Claudia Crosby Theater.

This marks the return of the large-scale musical work for TROY’s choral department. In the past, under the late music professor Dr. Bill Denison, the performance would take the stage every two to three years. Dr. Hui Ting Yang, Director of the John M. Long School of Music, says that according to the archives, the last performance of Handel’s Messiah was in the fall of 2007.

“For at least 40 years, countless generations of choristers in the School of Music have learned and sang in Handel’s Messiah,” Dr. Yang said. “I believe that the beauty of music is to connect and bring people together. Not only are we excited to bring back this tradition, but we are also excited to welcome back choral alumni and community members who will sing with us on the stage.”

Dr. Scott Sexton, Assistant Professor of Music Education, performed in Handel’s Messiah in 2007 as a student while at TROY. He is excited for his students to have this experience, and for the community to witness an authentic representation of the production.

“Dr. Thrasher and Dr. Yang have been supportive by hiring an entire orchestra,” Dr. Sexton said. “As a conductor, I don’t get to experience that very often, and the same goes for our students. The fact that they’re having this experience in their undergrad is a big deal. We will have a string orchestra, and we’re even hiring a harpsichord. During the Baroque period, there was no piano, so the harpsichord was the predecessor to piano. We’re really paying attention to what that music was like at that exact time, and that’s exciting.”

Handel’s Messiah is a famous oratorio, a large-scale musical work that includes an orchestra, choir and soloists, that focuses on religious texts. Messiah tells the story of Jesus Christ and is divided into three parts. Part one recounts the prophesies of the Messiah’s coming and birth.

The performance is offered as a special gift to the TROY community and is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. For more information, contact the College of Communication and Fine Arts at 334-670-3869.