LEWISTON — Bates College musicians will offer three masterpieces of the art music repertory in March: Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, Debussy’s “Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune” and the second and third parts of Handel’s “Messiah.”

Conducted by Hiroya Miura of the Bates faculty, the Bates College Orchestra will perform the Brahms and Debussy compositions at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10.

The Bates College Choir, conducted by John Corrie, will present the well-known Handel oratorio at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 16-17.

Both concerts take place at Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St. Admission is free, but due  to limited seating, tickets are required. For tickets and more information, call 786-6135 or email olinarts@bates.edu.

Brahms and Debussy

“At first, Brahms and Debussy seem to be at aesthetic opposites,” Miura said. “Brahms is the height of the 19th-century German ‘absolute music’ — music that is about only itself, with no external references. And Debussy was self-consciously trying to redefine French music.

“These two pieces, however, were written only 10 years apart, and in spite of the difference in their harmonic language, I am struck by their similarly organic treatment of the rhythm. The composers were both masters of form and the organization of musical motifs.”

 The 27 students in the orchestra (the other 18 players are musicians from the community) will find “both pieces challenging for various reasons: rhythm, orchestral balance, expression, etc.,” Miura said. “However, I find both pieces are absolutely worth the effort for their sublime musical quality.”

 ‘The Messiah’

Written in just 24 days in 1741 and considered Georg Friedrich Handel’s masterpiece, “Messiah” draws from the Old and New Testaments to lay out the Christ story and its significance to humankind.

The oratorio’s debut, in Dublin in April 1742, “seems to have been one of those rare times in history when a transcendentally great work is immediately perceived at its full value,” wrote music historian Jan Swafford.

 “There are so many breathtaking moments for both the vocal soloists and the chorus,” said choir director Corrie, a Lewiston resident who is also artistic director of the Maine Music Society. “So many familiar melodies and joyous sounds.”

While the piece is commonly associated with Christmas, its themes pertain to both Christmas and Easter. Because the entire work lasts about three hours, the choir performed the first part of the oratorio last December.

” ‘Messiah’ is one of those milestones that every choral singer should know,” Corrie said.