“It’s amazing to think we’re in our 41st year presenting the ‘Twelfth Night Festival,’” says Andrew Lutz-Long, Christ Lutheran Church Associate Music Director and “Twelfth Night Festival” Conductor.

The “Twelfth Night Festival” is 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, Christ Lutheran Church, Allentown.

“Twelfth Night” refers to the 12th night of Christmas, also referred to as the eve of Epiphany, the day that commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus in the New Testament of The Bible.

Says Lutz-Long, “For this year, we have made costume adaptions as our younger youth are now young adults and minor changes to the music.”

Music is an integral component of Twelfth Night celebrations. Michael Krentz is church organist and Music Director. Andrew Lutz-Long will conduct the approximate 20-piece orchestra.

Modeled on medieval pageants and feasts, the production includes hundreds of volunteer cast members from the congregation and the community in costume and behind the scenes.

The Christ Church choir is accompanied by more than two dozen volunteer singers from other congregations and by a professional chamber orchestra. Local performers, including the William Allen High School Dancers and the City of Bethlehem Bagpipe Band, are part of the production.

The performance includes:

“We Three Kings” (1857), by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church;

“Masters in This Hall,” music by French composer Marin Marais (c. 1706), lyrics by English poet William Morris (c. 1860);

“The Boar’s Head Carol,” English carol premised upon a medieval tradition, arranged by David Wilcox;

“The Shepherds’ Farewell,” from the oratorio “L’enfance du Christ”-by Hector Berlioz (1853-1854);

“Goodnight and Farewell,” from the opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by Gian Carlo Menott;

“Joy to the World,” English carol (c. 1719), arranged by Frank Kuykendall;

“I Saw Three Ships,” English carol (17th century), arranged by Mark Reese, and

“Sussex Carol,” by Irish Bishop Luke Wadding (c. 1684), contemporary tune and lyrics by Cecil Sharp & Ralph Vaughan Williams (published 1919), arranged by Elaine Hagenberg.

Says Lutz-Long, “We have added a new musical selection, “The Dream Isaiah Saw,” to replace “Creation Will Be at Peace.”

“The Dream Isaiah Saw” by Pittsburgh-based composer Glenn L. Rudolph was commissioned by the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh.

The inspiration for the lyrics is “Lions and Oxen Will Feed in the Hay” from Thomas H. Troeger’s 1994 publication “Borrowed Light: Hymn Texts, Prayers and Poems.”

The lyrics pertain to the Old Testament Book of Isaiah: 6-11. The accompaniment features brass, percussion and organ.

“The very basis of our ‘Twelfth Night’ presentation was not only to tell the story, but to involve our parishioners and the public,” says Lutz-Long, adding, “The connections made after 40 years are still memorable and bring people together.

The “Twelfth Night Festival” stands as a continuing memorial to Eleanor D. Kramp, whose inspiration and foresight began the festival.

“Twelfth Night Festival,” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10; 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, Christ Lutheran Church, 1245 W. Hamilton St., Allentown. Information: info@christ-atown.org ; 610-433-1097. Tickets: 610-433-4271; https://www.christ-atown.org/twelfths-night-Festival

“Classical View” is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com