Messiah
George Frederich Handel
Friday, December 7, 2001 at 8:00 pm.
Program Notes Performing Artists
Texts & Translations
Handel: Messiah
Part One
Sinfonia (Overture)
Recitative (Tenor)
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplish'd, that her iniquity is pardon'd.
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.
Isaiah xl, 1-3
Air (Tenor)
Ev'ry valley shall be exalted, and ev'ry mountain and hill made low: the crooked straight, and the rough places plain:
Isaiah xl, 4
Chorus
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Isaiah xl, 5
Recitative (Bass)
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, a little while, and I will shake the heav'ns, and the earth, the sea, and the dry land; and the desire of all nations shall come: the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, ev'n the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
Haggai ii, 6-7; Malachi iii, 1
Air (Alto)
But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire.
Malachi iii, 2
Chorus
And he shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Malachi iii, 3
Recitative (Alto)
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his son Emmanuel, GOD WITH US.
Isaiah vii, 14; Matthew i, 23
Air (Alto) and Chorus
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 xl, 9; lx, 1
Recitative (Bass)
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isaiah lx, 2-3
Air (Bass)
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah ix, 2
Chorus
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.
Isaiah ix, 6
Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Recitative (Soprano)
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke ii, 8
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luke ii, 9
And the angel said unto them, 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.
Luke ii, 10-11
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heav'nly host praising God, and saying,
Luke ii, 13
Chorus
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill toward men.
Luke ii, 14
Air (Soprano)
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.
Zechariah ix, 9-10
Recitative (Alto)
Then shall the eyes of the blind be open'd, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
Isaiah xxxv, 5-6
Air (Alto and Soprano)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: and he shall gather 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, come unto him, that are heavy laden, and he will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of him; for he is meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Isaiah xl, 11; Matthew xi, 28-29
Chorus
His yoke is easy, and his burthen is light.
Matthew xi, 30
Part Two
Chorus
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 this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
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 this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Psalm xxiv, 7-10
Recitative (Tenor)
Unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
Hebrews i, 5
Chorus
Let all the angels of God worship him.
Hebrews i, 6
Air (Tenor)
Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Romans x, 18
Air (Alto)
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
Romans x, 15
Chorus
Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, Hallelujah. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Hallelujah!
Rev. xix, 6; xi, 15; xix, 16
Part Three
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. For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits of them that sleep.
Job xix, 25-26; I Cor. xv, 20
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.
I Cor. xv, 52-54
Recitative (Alto)
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallow'd up in victory.
I Cor. xv, 54
Chorus
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Cor. xv, 57
Air (Soprano)
If God be for us, who can be against us? 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 viii, 31, 33-34
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 pow'r, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Rev. v, 12-13
