Handel’s “Messiah” is universally acknowledged as one of the finest musical pieces ever composed. The work was accomplished by Handel with assistance from Charles Jenners (an 18th century lyricist). The combination of a strong Christian theme, four part voice harmonies and solos, orchestral compositions (running the gamut of strings, percussion, and horns), and at times a unique and majestic harmonious blend of voice, instrument, and verse, “Messiah” is indeed worth listening to and reflecting on over many “takes”. If ever one could conclude that “Divine Inspiration” exists, this work offers convincing evidence: Handel commenced the “Messiah” on August 22, 1741, in response to a competition for a new work of music to be performed in Dublin on Easter, 1742. The work was somehow completed by Handel on September 14, 1741…a miraculous feat accomplished in twenty-three days! The Dublin audience was understandably in awe of the superb music. The Dublin debut was followed over the next few years by concerts in London and throughout Europe. Over the centuries a number of changes to the work have been made; however, the basic composition has stood the test of time. The seven (7) YouTube videos highlighted below represent a portion of “Part I” which concentrates on the birth of Jesus. Each Advent season, our youth would be “exposed” to this classic which might be alternately labeled as the “First Christian Praise Music” composition! ADVENT – CHRISTMAS: 1. OVERTURE [London Symphony Orchestra – Sir Colin Davis] 2. RECIT. Tenor ISAIAH 40: 1-3 "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: - prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert a highway for our God.“ [London Symphony Orchestra-John Wakefield] 3. AlR tenor ISAIAH 40:4 “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.” 4. CHORUS ISAIAH 40:5And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 5. REClT. bass HAGAI 2: 6-7 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts-Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come. The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts. 6. AlR bass MALACHI 3:2 But who may abide the day of H is coming? and who shall stand When He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire. 7. CHORUS MALACHI 3:3 And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. [London Symphony – Sir Colin Davis - Helen Watts] 8. RECIT. alto ISAIAH 7:14 “Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name E M M A N U E L, God with us.” 9. AIR alto and CHORUS ISAIAH 40:9 “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” ISAIAH 60:1 10. RECIT, bass MATTHEW 4: 12-16 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall a rise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the b rightness of thy rising. 11. AlR ·bass MATTHEW 4: 12-16The people that walk i n darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 12. CHORUS ISAIAH 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” 13. PASTORAL SYMPHONY [London Symphony – Sir Colin Davis – Heather Harper] 14. RECIT, soprano LUKE 2: 8-9 “There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo! the Angel of the Lord ca me upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.” 15. RECIT. soprano LUKE 2: 10-11 “And the Angel said unto the m, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”. 16.RECIT. soprano LUKE 2:13 “And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: 17. CHORUS LUKE 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill towards men.” [London Symphony – Sir Colin Davis – Heather Harper] 18. AIR soprano Luke 1:14 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout! O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee! He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.” 19. RECIT. soprano Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. 20. AIR alto and soprano ISAIAH 40:11 / MATTHEW 11: 28-89 He shall feed His f lock like a shepherd; and He shall gat her the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Come unto Him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take His yolk upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 21. CHORUS His yoke is easy and His burden is light. LIFE, CRUCIFIXION, RESURRECTION: Performed at Westminster Abbey, London, c. 2004 by the Academy of Ancient Music conducted by Christopher Hogwood; vocals by the Choir of Westminster Abbey [Great job by our Anglican cousins!]
Below presentation commences at time stamp 52:27: Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin or the world. [John Ch. 1, v.29] 23. AIR alto [Isaiah Ch. 53, v. 3] He was despised and rejected or men; a man or sorrow and acquainted with grief. 24. CHORUS [Isaiah Ch. 53, v. 4-5] Surely He hath borne our griefs, end carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him. 25. CHORUS And with His stripes we were healed. 26. CHORUS [Isaiah Ch. 53, v. 6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 27. RECIT, tenor [Psalm 22, v. 7] All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn; they shoot out their lips and shake their heads saying 28. CHORUS [Psalm 22, v.8] He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him. 29. RECIT (tenor) Thy rebuke hath broken his heart; he is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on him, but there was no man, neither found he any to comfort him.” (Psalm 69, v.20) 30. Arioso (tenor) Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow.” (Lamentations 1, v.12) 31. RECIT (tenor) He was cut off out the land of the living: for the transgressions of thy people was he stricken.” (Isaiah 53, v.8) 32. Air (tenor) But thou didst not leave his soul in hell; nor didst thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.” (Psalm 16, v.10) 33. CHORUS [Psalm 24, v. 7-10] – TIME STAMP 1:22:14 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King or Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, end be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. 34. RECIT (tenor) Unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?” (Hebrews 1, v.5) 35. Chorus Let all the angels of God worship him.” (Hebrews 1, v.6) 36. Air (mezzo-soprano) Thou art gone up on high; thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men: yea, even for thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.” (Psalm 68, v.18) 37. CHORUS [Psalm 68, v. 11] The Lord gave the word, great was the company of the preachers. 38. AIR soprano [Romans Ch. 10, v. 15] How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. 39. CHORUS [Romans Ch. 10, v. 18] – TIME STAMP 1:33:40 Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world. 40. AIR bass [Psalm 2, v. 1-2] Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people Imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His Anointed. 41. CHORUS [Psalm 2, v. 3] Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us. 42. RECIT. Tenor [Psalm 2, v. 4] He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision. 43. AIR tenor [Psalm 2, v. 9] Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 44. CHORUS [Revelation Ch. 19, v. 6; Revelation Ch. 11, v. 15; Revelation Ch. 19, v. 16] HALLEUJAH: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS, HALLELUJAH 45. Air (soprano) I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19, vv.25–26); “For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep.” (I Corinthians 15, v.20) 46. Chorus Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15, vv.21–22) 47. RECIT (bass) – TIME STAMP 1:51:49 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet:” (I Corinthians 15, vv.51–52) 48. Air (bass) The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15, 52–53) 49. Recitative (mezzo-soprano) Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15, v.54) 50. Duet (mezzo-soprano/tenor) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” (I Corinthians 15, vv.55–56) 51. Chorus But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57) 52. Air (soprano) If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8, v. 31); “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8, vv.33–34) 53. Chorus Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5, vv.12–14) “Amen.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
March 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed
