Celebration of Music Concert Series: Royal Firework Extravaganza

During Summer 2025, Trinity’s sanctuary was closed as it was renewed with paint, new wood flooring, and updated pew spacing. The Letourneau organ was sealed off to protect the pipework and case. To celebrate the completion of this renovation, we turn to the glorious music of Handel, a composer familiar with creating music for festive occasions!

Handel’s musical legacy includes a great body of Baroque masterpieces. He achieved immense popularity and success with oratorio compositions including Messiah. Handel composed short organ concerti for concert intermissions of his oratorio concerts. Handel himself was the organist. This concert features one of those famous organ concerti.

We then turn to the festive Music for the Royal Fireworks, composed to celebrate the end of the War of Austrian Succession (1748). It features rolling drums, bright and festive brass, and (in the original outdoor performance) the use of 100 canons! Movements titled The Peace and The Rejoicing shape the story of this music and its significance upon its premiere. It will be performed indoors - without fireworks or canons - but with the festive spirit as intended! It will be conducted by Dr. Darlene Kuperus.

Organ Concerto No. 4 in F Major (organ + orchestra)
Featuring Dr. James Kibbie (U of M Organ department chair/Emeritus)
Lascia ch’io pianga (from the opera Rinaldo)
Featuring Jennie Judd Reyes, soprano
Music for the Royal Fireworks orchestral suite
Performed by Grand Rapids Symphony players