Messiah, HWV 56 |
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This is a well known Christian work and one of Handel's most familiar. The text is based on the Bible.
For a first listening, I would recommend staying away from staged performances. My favourite versions are Karl Richter's and Václav Luks' live performance.
For a first listening, I would recommend staying away from staged performances. My favourite versions are Karl Richter's and Václav Luks' live performance.
Quotes/Favourites
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) 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) Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet once a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land, and I will shake all nations ... (Haggai II 6 - 7) 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) And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi III 3) Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah XL9; LX1) 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 IX 2 - 3) 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) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given ... (Isaiah IX 6) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem, behold, thy King cometh unto thee. (Zechariah IX 9 - 10) His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light. (Matthew XI 30) He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah LIII 3) Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow. (Lamentations I 12) But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell, nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm XVI 10) 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 LXVIII 18) How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things. (Romans X 15) 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. (Psalm II 3) Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 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! (Revelation XIX 6; XI 15; XIX 16) 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 XIX 25 - 26) 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 XV 52 - 53) O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory? (I Corinthians XV 55) 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) |
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