Zadok the Priest, coronation anthem of George II (5'56)
performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge and the
Academy of Ancient Music conducted by Stephen Cleobury
Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon King.
And all the people rejoiced, and said:
God save the King! Long live the King!
May the King live for ever.
Hallelujah, Amen.
after 1 Kings 1:38-40
All remaining selections are from Messiah.
Opening of Handel's Messiah (12'58)
performed by The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers
(Try clicking here
if embedded player does not work)
Symphony (3'11)
Recitative: Comfort ye, my people (Mark Padmore, tenor) (3'13)
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.
Aria: Every valley shall be exalted (Mark Padmore, tenor) (3'35)
Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill made low;
the crooked straight and the rough places plain.
Chorus: And the glory of the Lord (3'01)
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: 1-5
There were shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over
their flocks by night.
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.
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 Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord."
And suddenly there was with the angel,
a multitude of the
heavenly host, praising God, and saying:
["Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth, good will
towards men." ]
Luke 2: 8-14
From Part I of Messiah (9'55)
performed by The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers
Recitative: For behold (Christopher Purves, bass) (2'35)
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
Aria: The people that walked in darkness (Christopher Purves, bass) (3'15)
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
Chorus: For unto us a Child is born (4'01)
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.
Isaiah 9: 6
Chorus: He trusted in God (2'20)
performed by The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers
(Try clicking here
if embedded player does not work)
He trusted in God that He would deliver Him;
let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him.
after Psalm 22:8 and Matthew 27:43
Recitative: He that dwelleth (Mark Padmore, tenor) (0'13)
He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn;
The Lord shall have them in derision.
Psalm 2: 4
Aria: Thou shalt break them (Mark Padmore, tenor) (2'13)
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;
thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Psalm 2: 9
Chorus: Hallelujah (3'57)
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 19:6, 11:15, 19:16
Chorus: His yoke is easy (2'21)
performed by The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers
His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
Matthew 11: 30