{ program notes
Messiah Choral Text
Part I 1 . Sinfonia : Overture
2 . Recitativo accompagnato : Tenor 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 . ISAIAH 40:1 – 3
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 40:4
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 40:5
5 . Recitativo accompagnato : Bass 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 . HAGGI 2:7
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
6 . 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
7 . Chorus And He shall purify the sons of Levi , that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness . MALACHI 3:3
8 . Recitativo : Alto Behold ! A virgin shall conceive and bear a Son , and shall call His name Emmanuel : God with us . ISAIAH 7:14
9 . Air : Alto & 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 ! ISAIAH 40:9
Arise , shine , for thy light is come , and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee . ISAIAH 60:1
10 . Recitativo 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
11 . 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
12 . 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 , Counselor , The Mighty God , The Everlasting Father , The Prince of Peace . ISAIAH 9:6
13 . Pifa (“ Pastorale Symphony ”)
14a . Recitativo : Soprano There were shepherds abiding in the field , keeping watch over their flocks by night . LUKE 2:8
14b . Recitativo 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
15 . Recitativo : 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 Savior which is Christ the Lord . LUKE 2:10 – 11
16 . Recitativo accompagnato : Soprano And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God , and saying . LUKE 2:13
17 . Chorus Glory to God in the highest , and peace on earth , good will toward men . LUKE 2:14
18 . Air : Soprano Rejoice greatly , O daughter of Zion ! Shout , O daughter of Jerusalem ! Behold , thy King cometh unto thee : He is the righteous Savior , and He shall speak peace unto the heathen . ZECHARIAH 9:9 – 10
19 . Recitativo : Alto 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
20 . Air : Alto & 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 labor , ye 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 . MATTHEW 11:28 – 29
21 . Chorus His yoke is easy , and His burden is light . MATTHEW 11:30
INTERMISSION
Part II 22 . Chorus Behold the Lamb of God , that taketh away the sin of the world . JOHN 1:29
23 . 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
24 . Chorus Surely He hath borne our griefs , and carried our sorrows ! He was wounded for our transgressions ; He was buried for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him . ISAIAH 53:4 – 5
25 . Chorus And with His stripes we are healed . ISAIAH 53:5
26 . Chorus 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 . ISAIAH 53:6
14 Overture | bsomusic . org