A musical composition often associated with Christmas but first performed during Lent more than 250 years ago will be featured Tuesday, as the Vicksburg Chamber Choir presents its Holy Week concert.

If you go

The Vicksburg Chamber Choir will present selections from Handel’s “Messiah,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, 1501 Cherry St. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Selections from “Messiah,” George Frideric Handel’s most well-known composition, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church on Cherry Street.

“Messiah” is a work that expresses musically the life, death, resurrection and ultimate eternal triumph of Jesus Christ. The work is an oratorio, which like an opera uses words and music to tell a story but is strictly choral, with no dramatic interaction among performers.

Modern performances of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” and other selections from “Messiah,” have become commonplace during Advent, but the work was originally a Lenten piece.

“It was not originally envisaged as a Christmas tradition, but its microcosm of Christian doctrine and faith was intended as a timely thought-provoker for Lent and Easter,” according to the Handel Web site, gfhandel.org.

The oratorio consists of three parts, loosely corresponding to Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah, the life and redemptive sacrifice of Jesus as presented in the Gospels and the end-times judgment and victory over death taken from the book of Revelation.

“It’s an interesting piece, the way it is put together,” said Medley Fowler, publicity chairman for the Vicksburg Chamber Choir. “It’s enjoyable to sing, and we haven’t sung it here for a while.”

“Messiah,” which has a score of more than 250 pages, was composed in just 24 days over the winter of 1741 to 1742, Fowler said. Handel went to Dublin to produce it because he was somewhat out of favor and fashion in London. The debut, April 13, 1742, was so powerful it was called “a triumph.” Then London took notice.

At its very next production there, the audience was so captivated by the “Hallelujah Chorus,” which celebrates the Resurrection, everyone spontaneously stood up.

The Vicksburg Chamber Choir’s performance will include choruses, arias and recitatives from parts two and three, including the “Hallelujah Chorus” and “Worthy Is the Lamb.”

The performance is free, but donations will be accepted.

The choir will be accompanied by Barbara Tracy on organ, Denise Ragsdale on piano and a small string and wind ensemble. Soloists are soprano Anne Gray, alto Judy Walker, tenor Jason Walker and bass Paul Ballard. Sharon Penley is director.

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com.