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

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