Lynne Dawson, soprano
Hillary Summers, alto
John Mark Ainsley, tenor
Alastair Miles, bass
The Brandenburg Consort -- Roy Goodman, leader
Crispian Steele Perkins, trumpet
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Stephen Cleobury, conductor
1993
***
Handel's Messiah - 1741: Composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741 over a brief 24-day period, the correct title is simply "Messiah". It is an oratorio. Written entirely with the inspired Word of God from the King James Bible, it is a presentation of the Saviour of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ, from the prophecies that went before, to His coming triumphant reign of heaven and earth. In three parts:
Part I
Scene 1: Isaiah's prophecy of salvation
1. Sinfony - overture (orchestra)
2. Comfort ye my people (tenor recitation) Isaiah 40:1-3
3. Every valley shall be exalted (air for tenor) Isaiah 40:4
4.And the glory of the LORD (chorus) Isaiah 40:5
Scene 2: The coming judgment
5. Thus saith the Lord of hosts (bass) Malachi 3:1
6. But who may abide (air for bass) Malachi 3:2
7. And he shall purify (chorus) Malachi 3:3
Scene 3: The prophecy of Christ's birth
8. Behold a Virgin shall conceive (alto recitation) Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
9. O thou that telleth good tidings to Zion (air for alto, chorus) Isaiah 40:9; 60:1
10. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (bass recitation) Isaiah 60:2,3
11. The people that walked in darkness (air for bass) Isaiah 9:2
12. For unto us a child is born (chorus) Isaiah 9:6
Scene 4: Birth of the Saviour announced to shepherds Christ the Lord
13. Pifa "pastoral symphony" (orchestra)
14. There were shepherds abiding in a field (soprano recitation) (Luke 2:8)
15. And lo the angel of the Lord came upon them (soprano) Luke 2:9
16. And the angel said unto them (continued) Luke 2:10, 11
17. And suddenly there was with the angel (continued) Luke 2:13
18. Glory to God (chorus) Luke 2:14
Scene 5: Christ's healing and redemption of his people
19. Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion (air for soprano) Zechariah 9:9, 10
20. Then shall the eyes of the blind (soprano recitation) Isaiah 35:5, 6
21. He shall feed his flock (air for either soprano or alto) Matthew 11:28, 29
22. His yoke is easy and his burthen is light (chorus) Matthew 11:30
Part II
Scene 1: Christ's Passion
23. Behold the lamb of God (chorus) (John 1:29)
24. He was despised (air for alto) Isaiah 50:6
25. Surely he hath borne our griefs (chorus) Isaiah 53:4,5
26. And with his stripes (chorus) Isaiah 53:5
27. All we like sheep (chorus) Isaiah 53:6
28. All they that see him laugh him to scorn (bass recitation) Psalms 22:7
29. He trusted in God (chorus) Psalms 22:8
30. Thy rebuke hath broken his heart (tenor or soprano recitation) Psalms 69:20
31. Behold and see (tenor or soprano recitation) Lamentations 1:12
Scene 2: Christ's Death and Resurrection
32. He was cut off (tenor or soprano recitation) Isaiah 53:8
33. But thou didst not leave his soul in hell (air for tenor or soprano) Psalms 16:10
Scene 3: Christ's Ascension
34. Lift up your heads (chorus) Psalms 24:7-10
Scene 4: Christ's reception in Heaven
35. Unto which of the angels said he at any time (tenor recitation) Hebrews 1:5
36. Let all the angels of God worship Him (chorus) Hebrews 1:6
Scene 5: The beginnings of Gospel preaching
37. Thou art gone up on high (air for alto or soprano) Psalms 68:18
38. The Lord gave the word (chorus) Psalms 68:11
39. How beautiful are the feet (aria for soprano) Romans 10:15
40. Their sound is gone out (chorus) Romans 10:18
Scene 6: The world's rejection of the Gospel
41. Why do the nations rage (air for bass) Psalms 2:1, 2
42. Let us break their bonds asunder (chorus) Psalms 2:3
43. He that dwelleth in heaven (tenor recitation) Psalms 2:4
Scene 7: God's ultimate victory
44. Thou shalt break them (air for tenor) Psalms 2:9
45. Alleluia (chorus) Revelation 19:6; 11:15; 19:16
Part III
Scene 1: The promise of eternal life
46. I know that my redeemer liveth (air for soprano) Job 19:25, 26; For now is Christ risen from the dead - 1 Corinthians 15:20
47. Since by man came death (chorus) 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
48. Behold I tell you a mystery (bass recitation) 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52
49. The trumpet shall sound (air for bassist) 1 Corinthians 15:52, 53
Scene 2: The final conquest of death
50. Then shall be brought to pass (alto recitative) 1 Corinthians 15:54
51. O death where is thy sting? (duet alto and tenor) 1 Corinthians 15:55, 56
52. But thanks be to God (chorus) 1 Corinthians 15:57
53. If God be for us (air for soprano or alto) Romans 8:31, 33, 34
Scene 3: The acclamation of Christ
54. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain / Amen (chorus) Revelation 5:12,13
