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Handel: Messiah (Watkins Shaw Edition)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by Handel with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible. It was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. It is one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces with optional settings for many of the individual numbers.
Part One
Sinfonia (Overture)
Comfort Ye My People Recitative
Ev'ry valley shall be exalted Air
And the Glory of the Lord Chorus
Thus saith the Lord Recitative
But who may abide the day of his coming? (Version I) Air for Alto
But who may abide the day of his coming (Version II) Transposed for Soprano
And he shall purify Chorus
Behold, a virgin shall conceive Recitative
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion Air and Chorus
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth Recitative
The people that walked in darkness Air
For Unto Us a Child is Born Chorus
Pifa ('Pastoral Symphony')
There were shepherds abiding in the field Recitative
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them Recitative
And the angel said until them Recitative
And suddenly there was with the angel Recitative
Glory To God Chorus
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (Version I) Air (4/4)
Then shall the eyes of the blind Recitative
He shall feed his flock (Version I) Air for Soprano
He shall feed his flock (Version II) Transposed for Alto and Soprano
His yoke is easy, and his burthen is light Chorus
Part Two
Behold the Lamb of God Chorus
He Was Despised Air
Surely he hath borne our griefs Chorus
And with his stripes we are healed Chorus
All we like sheep have gone astray Chorus
All they that see him laugh him to scorn Recitative
He trusted in God Chorus
Thy rebuke hath broken his heart Recitative
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow Air
He was cut off out of the land of the living Recitative
But thou didst not leave his soul in hell Air
Lift up your heads, O ye gates Chorus
Unto which of the angelsl said he at any time Recitative
Let all the angels of God worship him Chorus
Thou art gone up on high (Version I) Air for Alto
Thou art gone up on high (Version II) Transposed for Soprano
The Lord gave the word Chorus
How beautiful are the feet (Version I) Air
Their sound is gone out (Version I) Chorus
Why do the nations so furiously rage together (Version I) Air
Why do the nations so furiously rage together (Version II) Air and Recitative
Let us break their bonds asunder Chorus
He that dwelleth in heaven Recitative
Thou shalt break them Air
Hallelujah Chorus
Part Three
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth Air
Since by man came death Chorus
Behold, I tell you a mystery Recitative
The Trumpet Shall Sound Air
Then shall be brought to pass Recitative
O death, where is thy sting? Duet, Alto and Tenor
But thanks be to God Chorus
If God be for us (Version I) Air for Soprano
If God be for us (Version II) Transposed for Alto
Worthy is the lamb that was slain Chorus
Appendix
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (Version II) Air (12/8)
Thou art gone up on high (Version III) Air for Bass
How beautiful are the feet (Version II) Air for Alto
How beautiful are the feet...Break forth into joy Duet and Chorus
Their sound is gone out (Version II) Air
070137 | Handel George Frideric | Handel George Frideric
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