A Sacred Oratorio by HANDEL
With additional accompaniments, edited by EBENEZER PROUT
DORA LABBETTE (Soprano);
ELSIE BLACK (Contralto);
LEONARD GOWINGS (Tenor) : HAROLD Williams (Baritone)
THE WIRELESS CHORUS
The WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(Leader, S. KNEALE KELLY )
Conducted by STANFORD ROBINSON
.
I DID think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself!' cried Handel, when he had written the last notes of the Hallelujah Chorus, thus completing the Second Part of Messiah. This great Oratorio was written in no more than twenty-four days in the summer of 1741, yet, nearly two centuries after its composition, it is generally regarded as Handel's supreme achievement, and one of the greatest musical works in existence.
Messiah is written for the usual four Soloists,
Chorus and Orchestra. The whole work is subdivided into three Parts. Considerable ' cuts ' are usually made in it, but for the sake of completeness, the opening words of every number are here quoted.
PART I
1. The First Part opens with an Overture, in two distinct sections, the first broad and dignified. the second quicker, strong and spirited. Then follow Isaiah's prophecies of the coming Messiah.
2-3. Tenor Solos. ' Comfort ye my people' ; and 'Every valley shall be exalted.'
4. Chorus. ' And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.'
5-6. Bass Solos. 'Thus saith.the Lord ...
I will shake the heavens and the earth'; and ' But who may abide the day of His coming ... For He is like a refiner's fire.'
7. Chorus. ' And He shall purify the sons of Levi.'
8-9. Contralto Solos. ' Behold ! a virgin shall conceive ' ; and ' 0 thou that tellest good tidings.' Chorus takes up these last words.
10-11. Bass Solos. 'For behold, darkness shall cover the earth ... but the Lord shall arise ' ; and ' The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.'
12. Chorus. ' For unto us a Child is born.'
13. There comes here a beautiful contrast, as very softly the Orchestra plays the simple, dream-like Pastoral Symphony, a picture of the shepherds keeping their night-watch in the fields. (This is not, of course, a ' Symphony ' in the modern sense of a big-seale independent orchestral work. but only a short instrumental interlude.)
14-16. Soprano Solos. 'There were shepherds .... And lo! the angel of the Lord came .... And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host.'
17. Chorus. ' Glory to God in the highest.' 18. Soprano Solo. 'Rejoice greatly!'
19-20. Contralto and Soprano Solos. Contralto. ' Then shall the eyes of the blind'; and ' He shall feed His flock '; Soprano, ' Come unto Him, all ye that labour.' (It is usual for these Solos to be sung thus, instead of the whole being sung by Soprano, us given in some of the older scores.)
21. Chorus. 'His yoke is easy.'