One of my wishes when we moved back to Michigan was to attend a performance of The Messiah at Hill Auditorium. I went as a teenager back in the day and not understanding what it was about and not knowing what to expect, I found it extremely boring. However, I have since bought a recording with an accompanying libretto, and I've looked forward to seeing a performance of it for many years.
I asked both Mark and John if they would like to go. They said "yes", but I could tell it wasn't something that was really important to them. Since we are pinched financially, I couldn't bring myself to buy tickets, and in all honesty, I figured I'd waited so many years to see it that what was another year.
I could hardly believe it when a woman from our ward called me and said that she had two tickets to The Messiah, and we didn't owe her anything if we decided to take them. She said she had prayed about whom to give them to, and my name came to her mind. No joke, I feel like Heavenly Father had heard the desire of my heart.
I cannot tell you how excited I was to go. It was fun to get dressed up and head out for a real night out. We were happy and surprised when we showed up and were led to our seats--just two rows off the stage! Holy smokes, I could see when the soloists were swallowing! The stage was lined with poinsettias and there was a huge Christmas wreath hanging from the ceiling. So much for liberal Ann Arbor, and three cheers for Christianity!
George Handel gets all the credit for "Messiah" (the correct name of the work), but thinking about the words and seeing how beautifully they were all put together, it's a shame that Charles Jennens doesn't get the credit he deserves. It was he who assembled the passages of scripture and approached Handel about setting them to music. Granted, there wouldn't a Messiah without the music, but without the words, Messiah would be a simple symphonic work, not worth much praise at all.
The soloists took my breath away. In fact, it took only a few moments for the ContraAlto to begin
singing about the Savior, and huge tears were rolling down my cheeks (my apology to the man sitting next to me). Her rich, deep voice bearing testimony of the prophecies of Jesus was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.
The performance ended up lasting about three hours, but I kid you not, I didn't feel a moment of any of it. It was so beautiful and so touching. I can't help but post the libretto. If you're not feeling the Christmas spirit yet this season, read these words and think about that Bethlehem babe, brought to this earth in humble circumstances but really the King of all of us. Or better yet, find a recording on YouTube and listen to it over the course of several days. You will be reminded why we have Christmas at all.
I asked both Mark and John if they would like to go. They said "yes", but I could tell it wasn't something that was really important to them. Since we are pinched financially, I couldn't bring myself to buy tickets, and in all honesty, I figured I'd waited so many years to see it that what was another year.
I could hardly believe it when a woman from our ward called me and said that she had two tickets to The Messiah, and we didn't owe her anything if we decided to take them. She said she had prayed about whom to give them to, and my name came to her mind. No joke, I feel like Heavenly Father had heard the desire of my heart.
I cannot tell you how excited I was to go. It was fun to get dressed up and head out for a real night out. We were happy and surprised when we showed up and were led to our seats--just two rows off the stage! Holy smokes, I could see when the soloists were swallowing! The stage was lined with poinsettias and there was a huge Christmas wreath hanging from the ceiling. So much for liberal Ann Arbor, and three cheers for Christianity!
George Handel gets all the credit for "Messiah" (the correct name of the work), but thinking about the words and seeing how beautifully they were all put together, it's a shame that Charles Jennens doesn't get the credit he deserves. It was he who assembled the passages of scripture and approached Handel about setting them to music. Granted, there wouldn't a Messiah without the music, but without the words, Messiah would be a simple symphonic work, not worth much praise at all.
The soloists took my breath away. In fact, it took only a few moments for the ContraAlto to begin
The performance ended up lasting about three hours, but I kid you not, I didn't feel a moment of any of it. It was so beautiful and so touching. I can't help but post the libretto. If you're not feeling the Christmas spirit yet this season, read these words and think about that Bethlehem babe, brought to this earth in humble circumstances but really the King of all of us. Or better yet, find a recording on YouTube and listen to it over the course of several days. You will be reminded why we have Christmas at all.
PART ONE: The prophesy and realization of God's plan
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| Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)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 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. (Isaiah 40 : 1-3) |
| Air (Tenor or Soprano)Ev'ry valley shall be exalted, and ev'ry mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40 : 4) |
| ChorusAnd the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40 : 5) |
| Accompagnato (Bass)Thus saith the Lord, 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 I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come. (Haggai 2 : 6-7) 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. (Malachi 3 : 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 3 : 2) |
| ChorusAnd He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3 : 3) |
| Recitative (Alto)Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, GOD WITH US. (Isaiah 7 : 14; Matthew 1 : 23) |
| Air (Alto) & ChorusO 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! O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 40 : 9; Isaiah 60 : 1) |
| Accompagnato (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 60 : 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 9 : 2) |
| ChorusFor 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 9 : 6) |
| Pifa (Sinfonia pastorale) |
| Recitative (Soprano)There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. (Luke 2 : 8) |
| Accompagnato (Soprano)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 2 : 9) |
| Recitative (Soprano)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 2 : 10-11) |
| Accompagnato (Soprano)And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: (Luke 2 : l3) |
| ChorusGlory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men. (Luke 2 : 14) |
| Air (Soprano or Tenor)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. (Zecharaiah 9 : 9-10) |
| Recitative (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. (Isaiah 35 : 5-6) |
| Aria (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. (Isaiah 40 : 11)Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, an 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. (Matthew 11 : 28-29) |
| ChorusHis yoke is easy, and his burden is light. (Matthew 11 : 30) |
PART TWO : The accomplishment of redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus, mankind's rejection of God's offer, and mankind's utter defeat when trying to oppose the power of the Almighty |
| ChorusBehold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1 : 29) |
| Air (Alto)He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53 : 3)He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting. (Isaiah 50 : 6) |
| ChorusSurely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53 : 4-5) |
| ChorusAnd with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53 : 5) |
| ChorusAll 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. (Isaiah 53 : 6) |
| Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn; they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying: (Psalms 22 : 7) |
| ChorusHe trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him. (Psalms 22 : 8) |
| Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)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. (Psalms 69 : 20) |
| Arioso (Tenor or Soprano)Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow. (Lamentations 1 : 12) |
| Accompagnato (Tenor or Soprano)He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgressions of Thy people was He stricken. (Isaiah 53 : 8) |
| Air (Tenor or Soprano)But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. (Psalms 16 : 10) |
| ChorusLift 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. (Psalms 24 : 7-10) |
| Recitative (Tenor or Soprano)Unto which of the angels said He at any time: Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? (Hebrews 1 : 5) |
| ChorusLet all the angels of God worship Him. (Hebrews 1 : 6) |
| Air (Alto)Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even from Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalms 68 : 18) |
| ChorusThe Lord gave the word; great was the company of the preachers. (Psalms 68 : 11) |
| Air (Soprano)How beautiful are the feet of them: that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. (Romans 10 : 15) |
| ChorusTheir sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10 : 18 / Psalms 19 : 4) |
| Air (Bass)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. (Psalms 2 : 1-2) |
| ChorusLet us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us. (Psalms 2 : 3) |
| Recitative (Tenor)He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision. (Psalms 2 : 4) |
| Air (Tenor)Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalms 2 : 9) |
| ChorusHallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19 : 6)The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11 : 15)King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19 : 16)Hallelujah! |
PART THREE : A Hymn of Thanksgiving for the final overthrow of Death |
| 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 : 25-26)For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. (I Corinthians 15 : 20) |
| ChorusSince 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 : 21-22) |
| Accompagnato (Bass)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 : 51-52) |
| 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 Corinthians 15 : 52-53) |
| Recitative (Alto)Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (I Corinthians 15 : 54) |
| Duet (Alto/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 : 55-56) |
| ChorusBut thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15 : 57) |
| Air (Soprano)If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8 : 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 : 33-34) |
| ChorusWorthy 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. Amen. (Revelation 5 : 12-13) |
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