messiah

This sacred oratorio has become one of the most recognized musical pieces of all time.  George Frideric Handel composed the music with lyricist Charles Jennens who drew from the King James Bible.  

The German born Handel had been trained in German and Italian schools before relocating to England in 1712.  He had quite a bit of success with Italian operas; but as the demand for music in English grew, he gradually made the transition to meet the demand.  Handel had written oratorio about Christ in Italy (La Resurrezione, 1708) and Germany (The Brockes Passion, 1716); but when Charles Jennens, 
with whom he had already collaborated (Saul, 1739), offered him the libretto for another collection from Scripture, he waited three years before he began to compose music for it.  

'Messiah' made its debut in Dublin in 1742 to rave reviews and universal acclaim.  When the oratorio came to London the next year, it was not so warmly received.  There were complaints about the sacred piece being performed in a secular theatre.  Also Jennings was not happy with some of the sections.  Handel reworked them and the oratorio was revived in 1749.  Since then, it has received more expansive orchestral arrangements and is one of the most performed oratorios ever.  




Hallelujah Chorus








'Messiah'
full oratorio:




PART I
Scene 1: Isaiah's prophecy of salvation
01:46 : 1. Ouverture
05:34 : 2. Comfort ye my people (Tenor)
08:30 : 3. Ev'ry valley shall be exalted (tenor)
11:50 : 4. And the glory of the Lord (chorus)
Scene 2: The coming judgment
14:48 : 5. Thus saith the Lord of hosts (bass)
16:16 : 6. But who may abide the day of His coming (bass)
20:45 : 7. And he shall purify the sons of Levi (chorus)
Scene 3: The prophecy of Christ's birth
23:25 : 8. Behold, a virgin shall conceive (alto)
23:49 : 9. O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (alto and chorus)
29:24 : 10. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (bass)
31:22 : 11. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light (bass)
34:55 : 12. For unto us a child is born (chorus)
Scene 4: The annunciation to the shepherds
39:03 : 13. Pifa ("pastoral symphony": instrumental)
41:46 : 14a. There were shepherds abiding in the fields (soprano)
42:03 : 14b. And lo, the angel of the Lord (soprano)
42:25 : 15. And the angel said unto them (soprano)
43:06 : 16. And suddenly there was with the angel (soprano)
43:23 : 17. Glory to God in the highest (chorus)
Scene 5: Christ's healing and redemption
45:22 : 18. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (soprano)
49:55 : 19. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened (alto)
50:28 : 20. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd (alto and soprano)
55:42 : 21. His yoke is easy (chorus)

PART II
Scene 1: Christ's Passion
58:17 :    22. Behold the Lamb of God (chorus)
1:01:08 : 23. He was despised and rejected of men (alto)
1:12:50 : 24. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (chorus)
1:14:32 : 25. And with his stripes we are healed (chorus)
1:16:24 : 26. All we like sheep have gone astray (chorus)
1:20:11 : 27. All they that see him laugh him to scorn (tenor)
1:20:52 : 28. He trusted in God that he would deliver him (chorus)
1:23:19 : 29. Thy rebuke hath broken his heart (tenor)
1:25:10 : 30. Behold and see if there be any sorrow (tenor)
Scene 2: Christ's Death and Resurrection
1:26:18 : 31. He was cut off (tenor)
1:26:48 : 32. But thou didst not leave his soul in hell (tenor)
Scene 3: Christ's Ascension
1:29:04 : 33. Lift up your heads, O ye gates (chorus)
Scene 4: Christ's reception in Heaven
1:34:20 : 34. Unto which of the angels (tenor)
1:34:35 : 35. Let all the angels of God worship Him (chorus)
Scene 5: The beginnings of Gospel preaching
1:36:07 : 36. Thou art gone up on high (alto)
1:39:18 : 37. The Lord gave the word (chorus)
1:40:24 : 38. How beautiful are the feet (soprano)
1:42:48 : 39. Their sound is gone out (chorus)
Scene 6: The world's rejection of the Gospel
1:44:21 : 40. Why do the nations so furiously rage together (bass)
1:47:16 : 41. Let us break their bonds asunder (chorus)
1:49:00 : 42. He that dwelleth in heaven (tenor)
Scene 7: God's ultimate victory
1:49:12 : 43. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (tenor)
1:51:17 : 44. Hallelujah (chorus)

PART III
Scene 1: The promise of eternal life
1:55:20 : 45. I know that my Redeemer liveth (soprano)
2:01:30 : 46. Since by man came death (chorus)
Scene 2: The Day of Judgment
2:03:40 : 47. Behold, I tell you a mystery (bass)
2:04:14 : 48. The trumpet shall sound (bass)
Scene 3: The final conquest of sin
2:13:06 : 49. Then shall be brought to pass (alto)
2:13:23 : 50. O death, where is thy sting (alto and tenor)
2:15:21 : 51. But thanks be to God (chorus)
2:17:45 : 52. If God be for us, who can be against us (soprano)
Scene 4: The acclamation of the Messiah
2:23:05 : 53. Worthy is the Lamb (chorus)
Amen (chorus)