Every December, midcoast-Maine impresario and musician Charles Brown Jr organizes an event called the Barroom Messiah. Musicians professional and amateur take over a local taven or other venue for a Saturday afternoon and sing a good part of the Messiah oratorio by G.F. Handel. That’s the one with the famous Hallelujah Chorus and many other numbers suitable for celebrating Advent and Christmas.
It’s great. Singers professional and amateur show up and sing some of the greatest music the history of the world has to offer. Charlie hires string players and choral section leaders from among local professional musicians. (“Ringers” in the lingo of church choirs everywhere.)
Everybody is invited to show up and sing, or listen.
It’s free. Charlie appreciates donations to pay the ringers. Rehearsal is at 2pm, and the performance is at 4pm. From my point of view as an amateur singer, that means I get to sing the music twice!
If you have a copy of the score, bring it. Copies will be available for those who don’t have them.
In 2025, Charlie has announced three venues on three Saturday afternoons, rehearsal at 2, done by 6.
December 6th. Blue, at 650A Congress Street in Portland’s Arts District.
December 13, First Baptist Church, 346 Main Street, Yarmouth. A coffee-shop vibe, not a bar vibe, here.*
December 20, Bistro La Cave, at 7 Public Landing, Camden down behind the 16 Bay View Hotel.
*Joke, possibly snarky
What’s the difference between Baptists and Lutherans? Lutherans say hello to one another when they bump into each other on the liquor aisle at the supermarket.