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November 18, 2004 "Considering the Messiah"
Dear Ones,
With Thanksgiving Day fast approaching, it may seem a bit premature to be writing about the Christmas Oratorio titled "The Messiah", by George Handel. But soon after Thanksgiving, notices will begin to be posted announcing the performance of this musical choral work, and I am giving a "heads up" so that you will be alert to these notices. I encourage you to attend one of these performances if possible. Sister Lynn Bruce gave permission to use a couple of messages regarding this musical work, that she posted several years ago to another list that we are both on. They are included below. Our Savior is *the* most important thing that we are thankful for, so maybe it's not so premature after all. There will not be a "Jerusalem's Daughters" next week as I plan to be out of town, so I will take this opportunity to extend Thanksgiving greetings to all with the prayer that each of you, as well as your friends and loved ones, have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving celebration! May the "joy of the Lord" truly be your peace on Thanksgiving Day, and always. In Him, Elaine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: Lynn Bruce Subject: pb-home: Handel's Messiah The celebration of Christ's birth has given the human race some of the most beautiful music ever written. I enjoy "collecting" the very old, more obscure carols that we seldom hear in our day of too much Muzak and too few village carolers. . . . Incidentally, there IS a difference in a Christmas 'song' and a Christmas 'carol.' Traditionally, a carol is a song about Christ. By request, I will also re-post the libretto for "The Messiah" by George Frederic Handel, which is a picture of the life of Christ drawn entirely from King James Bible texts. This is perhaps the most magnificent musical work ever written. . . . Do try to take your families to a live performance during this holiday season; many churches and colleges perform it for free in December. And don't forget to stand for the Hallelujah chorus -- it's tradition. According to historians, the King of England (in whose presence all subjects rose), overcome with awe, suddenly stood up during the first performance of the Hallelujah chorus, profoundly illustrating his subjection to the "King of Kings." The rest of the audience naturally rose when the King rose, and the tradition remains to this day. Handel wept uncontrollably as he composed it, and when asked about the shockingly short period of time that it took to compose -- a mere 21 days for a massive body of work, averaging over 12 pages of full orchestra score per day -- he simply quoted Paul: "Whether I was in the body or out of my body when I wrote it I know not." A servant startled him just as he finished writing the "Hallelujah Chorus" and he turned with tears streaming down his cheeks and cried out, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself." If you shop for a CD of The Messiah, note that many recordings are "highlights." If you seek a complete performance, make sure the Hallelujah chorus is NOT at the very end. Handel did not write it that way! He followed the life of Christ in the libretto, which places this chorus several pieces before the end, but some modern arrangers place it last to end the performance with a bang. I have a small collection of Messiah recordings, and I enjoy it performed on period instruments and in full orchestra equally. Hal-le-lujah! Lynn PB [Pyles Bruce] [Lynn also sent the Scriptures which are the text of The Messiah -- see below] From: Lynn Bruce Subject: Handel's Messiah Libretto The Messiah George Frederic Handel (1695-1759) Part I (1) Overture (2) Comfort Ye Isaiah 40:1-3 1. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. . . . 3. 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. (3) Every Valley Isaiah 40:4 4.Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. (4) And the Glory of the Lord Isaiah 40:5 5. 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. (5) Thus saith the Lord Haggai 2:6,7 6. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come Malachi 3:1 1. 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. (6) But who may abide the Day of His Coming? Malachi 3:2 2. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire. (7) And He shall Purify Malachi 3:3 3. And He shall purify the sons of Levi. . . that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (8) Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23) Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name EMMANUEL, God with us. (9) O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion Isaiah 40:9 9. 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, and be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Isaiah 60:1 1. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (10) For behold, darkness shall cover the earth Isaiah 60:2,3 2. 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. 3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (11) The people that walked in darkness Isaiah 9:2 (Matthew 3:16) 2. 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. (12) For unto Us a Child is born Isaiah 9:6 6. 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, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. (13) Pastoral Symphony (14) There were shepherds abiding in the field Luke 2:8 8. There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Luke 2:9 9. 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. (15) And the Angel said unto them Luke 2:10,11 10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (16) And suddenly there was with the Angel Luke 2:13 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, (17) Glory to God Luke 2:14 14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (18) Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion Zechariah 9:9,10 (Matthew 21:5) 9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He is the righteous Savior. . 10. . . And he shall speak peace unto the heathen. (19) Then shall the eyes of the blind Isaiah 35:5,6 5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. (20) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd Isaiah 40:11 11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; and he shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Matthew 11:28, 29 28. Come unto [Him], all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and [He shall]give you rest. 29. 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. (21) His yoke is easy Matthew 11:30 30. [His] yoke is easy, and [his]burden is light. Part II (22) Behold the lamb of God John 1:29 29.Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world. (23) He was despised Isaiah 53:3 3. He is despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. . . Isaiah 50:6 [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. (24) Surely He hath borne our griefs Isaiah 53:4,5 4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. . . . 5. . . He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:the chastisement of our peace was upon him, (25) And with His stripes we are healed Isaiah 53:5b 5. and with His stripes we are healed (26) All we like sheep have gone astray Isaiah 53:6 6. 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. (27) All they that see him laugh him to scorn Psalm 22:7 7. All they that see [him]laugh [him] to scorn: they shoot out their lips, they shake their heads, saying: (28) He trusted in God Psalm 22:8 (Matthew 27:43) 8. He trusted [in God] that he would deliver him:let him deliver him, if he delight in him. (29) Thy rebuke hath broken His heart Psalm 69:20 20. [Thy] rebuke hath broken [his] heart; [He is] full of heaviness. [He]looked for some to have pity [on Him], but there was none; neither found [He] any to comfort [Him]. (30) Behold, and see if there be any sorrow Lamentations 1:12 12. Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto [his] sorrow. . . (31) He was cut off out of the land of the living Isaiah 53:8b 8. he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of [Thy] people was He stricken. (32) But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell Psalm 16:10 (Acts 2:27) 10. [But] thou [didst] not leave [his] soul in hell; neither [didst]thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. (33) Lift up your heads, O ye gates Psalm 24:7-10 7. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. 8. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. 10. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. (34) Unto which of the angels said He at any time Hebrews 1:5 (Psalm 2:7) 5. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? (35) Let all the angels of God worship Him Hebrews 1:6b 6. "Let all the angels of God worship Him." (36) Thou art gone up on high Psalm 68:18 (Ephesians 4:8) 18. 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. (37) The Lord gave the word Psalm 68:11 11. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of [the preachers]. (38) How beautiful are the feet Romans 10:15 (Isaiah 52:7) 15. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (39) Their sound is gone out Romans 10:18 (Psalm 19:4) 18. their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world. (40) Why do the nations so furiously rage together? Psalm 2:1,2 (Acts 4:25-26) 1. Why do the heathen rage, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? 2. The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, (41) Let us break their bonds asunder Psalm 2:3 3. Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us. (42) He that dwelleth in heaven Psalm 2:4 4. He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision. (43) Thou shalt break them Psalm 2:9 9. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (44) Hallelujah Revelation 19:6 6. Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 11:15 15. . . the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 19:16 16. . . . KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS. Part III (45) I know that my redeemer liveth Job 19:25, 26 25. I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand on the latter day upon the earth: 26. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. 1 Corinthians 15:20 20. [For] now is Christ risen from the dead. . . the firstfruits of them that [sleep]. (46) Since by man came death 1 Corinthians 15:21,22 21. Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (47) Behold I tell you a mystery 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 51. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed, 52. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; (48) The trumpet shall sound 1 Corinthians 15:52b-53 52. the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (49) Then shall be brought to pass 1 Corinthians 15:54b (Isaiah 25:8) 54. then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' (50) O death where is thy sting? 1 Corinthians 15:55-56 (Hosea 13:14) 55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? 56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (51) But thanks be to God 1 Corinthians 15:57 57. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (52) If God be for us Romans 8:31, 33, 34 31. If God be for us, who can be against us? 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34. 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. (53) Worthy is the Lamb Revelation 5:12, 13 12. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13. . . . Blessing, and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.
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