Messiah (HWV 56)

Messiah (HWV 56)[1] is arguably the most popular and well known oratorio and often performed at Christmas and Easter. It was composed in 1741 with a scriptural libretto compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and the Psalms from the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and had its London premiere about a year later.

Our recordings have literally helped thousands around the world to enjoy performing this much loved work.

Please scroll down to review our demonstration samples for this work at the foot of this page.

For the Choir

All the choral sections with the chosen voice highlighted on piano with orchestral accompaniment
All the choral sections with all voices played together on piano, with orchestral accompaniment *
All the choral sections with assistance for choir played on organ, with orchestral accompaniment *
All the choral sections without assistance. Just as the orchestra plays *

* This is included when you purchase any voice part, as the Bonus Download.

For the Soloists

All the solo sections with the vocal parts(s) highlighted on a wind instrument with orchestral accompaniment. The choral voices can be heard played on the organ
All the solo sections with no voices played. Just as the orchestra plays. NB the orchestra sometimes plays the same as the voices, so there can be some assistance.

Accompaniment

All the sections with assistance for choir and soloists with orchestral accompaniment.
All the sections without assistance. Just as the orchestra plays. NB the orchestra sometimes plays the same as the voices, so there can be some assistance.

Select a track below the player to listen to samples from Handel Messiah (HWV 56).
To save MP3 audio examples to your device, select a track and click the 3 dots on the player and select 'Download' to download the selected track.

Audio Player with Playlist

Movements

No		Contents
1			Overture
2	Recitative	Tenor	Comfort ye my people
3	Air	Tenor	Every Valley shall be exalted
4	Chorus		And the glory of the Lord
5	Recitative	Bass	Thus saith the Lord
6	Air	Alto (Bass)	But who may abide the day of his coming
7	Chorus		And he shall purify
8	Recitative	Alto	Behold a virgin shall conceive
9	Air / Chorus	Alto	O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
10	Recitative	Bass	For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
11	Air	Bass	The people that walked in darkness
12	Chorus		For unto us a child is born
13			Pastoral Symphony (Pifa)
14	Recitative	Soprano	There were shepherds abiding in the field
15	Recitative	Soprano	And the angel said unto them
16	Recitative	Soprano	And suddenly there was with the angel.
17	Chorus		Glory to God
18	Air	Soprano	Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion
19	Recitative	Alto	Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened
20	Air	Alto	He shall feed his flock
21	Chorus		His yoke is easy
22	Chorus		Behold the Lamb of God
23	Air	Alto / Soprano	He was despised
24	Chorus		Surely he hath borne our grief's
25	Chorus		And with his stripes we are healed
26	Chorus		All we like sheep
27	Recitative	Tenor	All they that see him
28	Chorus		He trusted in God
29	Recitative	Tenor	Thy rebuke hath broken his heart
30	Air	Tenor	Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
31	Recitative	Tenor	He was cut off
32	Air	Tenor	But thou didst not leave his soul in hell
33	Chorus		Lift up your heads, O ye gates
34	Recitative	Tenor	Unto which of the angels
35	Chorus		Let all the angels of God
36	Air	Bass (Alto)	Thou art gone up on high
37	Chorus		The Lord gave the word
38	Air	Soprano	How beautiful are the feet
39	Chorus		There sound is gone out
40	Air	Bass	Why do the heathen so furiously rage together
41	Chorus		Let us break their bonds asunder
42	Recitative	Tenor	He that dwelleth in heaven
43	Air	Tenor	Thou shalt break them
44	Chorus		Hallelujah
45	Air	Soprano	I know that my redeemer liveth
46	Chorus		Since by man came death
47	Recitative	Bass	Behold, I tell you a mystery
48	Air	Bass	The trumpet shall sound
49	Recitative	Alto	Then shall be brought to pass
50	Duet	Alto / Tenor	O death where is thy sting?
51	Chorus		But thanks be to God
52	Air	Soprano	If God be for us
53	Chorus		Worthy is the Lamb

Messiah (HWV 56)

Messiah (HWV 56)

Please Select

Download

Bonus Download

Information

We accept payments