Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra and Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus Holiday Concert on Dec 15

The Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. David Newby and the Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus with selected soloists under the direction of Kathy Kelly, will be performing on Friday, Dec. 15, at Country Oaks Baptist Church beginning at 7 p.m.  Country Oaks Baptist Church is located at 20915 Schout Road.  

First on the program is G. Finzi's In Terra Pax, which is founded on a poem by Robert Bridges. In Terra Pax, subtitled "Christmas Scene" was composed in 1954. Finzi uses Luke's biblical account of the angels' appearance to the shepherds and explained that "the Nativity becomes a vision seen by a wanderer on a dark and frosty Christmas Eve in our own familiar landscape". Vaughan Williams quoted the work in Finzi's obituary, "This work is significant not only for its intrinsic beauty but because it seemed to give us hope of even better things to come."

After the intermission, the holiday concert will feature selections from Handel's Messiah. Messiah consists of three sections. Part One concerns itself with the prophecy of the coming Messiah, drawing the text from the Old Testament prophets, then from the New Testament recounting the story of the shepherds in the fields who are visited by an angel proclaiming the birth of the Messiah. Part One ends with the chorus singing "His yoke is easy; His burden is light."   

Part Two describes the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus concluding with the familiar Hallelujah Chorus. During one of the early London performances, King George II spontaneously rose to his feet in a spirit of exaltation. Audiences have traditionally repeated this practice ever since.  

In Part Three, the spiritual messages represented by Christ's teachings are set forth for the instruction and benefit of all. It opens with the moving soprano aria "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth", and concludes with a final chorus of Amen. The overall mood of Part Three is one of thanksgiving. 

Audience members may meet directors, soloists, and musicians during the reception following the concert.