The seventh movement from Handel's Messiah, a full SATB chorus. This orchestral recording follows Handel's original score, featuring strings, winds, harpsichord, and organ. Popular oratorio for Christmas and Easter.
Gm
Movement 11 from Handel's Messiah is an aria for bass. The creepy chromatic melody is played unison by the orchestra and soloist, giving an unusual, dark character to the text. Tempos are similar to the London Symphony Orchestra recording.
Bm
Movement thirteen in Handel's Messiah is the only purely instrumental movement, without any singing at all. It's useful as an interlude, contemplative moment, or during an intermission. The title "Pifa" suggests shepherds' music played traditionally at Christmas by the Italian "pifferare" (pipers or shepherds).
C
This well-known soprano aria is movement 52 of the Messiah. Follows Handel's original orchestral score. A beautiful number for solo performance.
Gm
This grand and peaceful SATB chorus is movement 21 of Handel's Messiah. The last movement in Part 1, it is usually the last song before intermission in performances of the full work. Gentle and easy to sing with a triumphant ending, with a text simple enough for anyone to understand.
Bb
This slow minor-key SATB chorus is Movement 22 of Handel's Messiah, opening the second part. Beautiful and dramatic canonic entrances, with all the choral parts clearly mirrored in the orchestra.
Gm
A full-blown fugue for SATB chorus, in grand Renaissance style. Handel doubles all the choral parts clearly in the orchestra, making this an easy fugue to sing. Movement 25 of the Messiah.
Fm
A bounding, joyous SATB chorus, movement 26 of Handel's Messiah. Ends with a slow quiet coda. Orchestral direction follows the London Philharmonic recording.
F
A forcefully dramatic tenor recitative, movement 27 of Handel's Messiah. Only a minute in length, it can also be performed by a soprano soloist.
Bbm
Movement 28 of Handel's Messiah is a four-part SATB fugal work about Christ's faith in God. All vocal parts are doubled clearly in the orchestra, making the complex music easy to sing. A fairly fast allegro movement with a slow dramatic ending.
Cm
A quiet, simple solo for tenor (or soprano), movement 30 of the Messiah is under two minutes long, and labeled an "arioso" (little aria) by Handel. The lyrics speak of Christ's sorrow, and tempos follow the London Philharmonic Orchestra recording.
Em
A very brief accompanied recitative from Handel's Messiah for tenor (or soprano). Only 30 seconds long, movement 31 forms a bridge between two short tenor arias, "Behold, and See if There Be Any Sorrow" and "But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell", so a recital soloist might perform all three as a set. Very slow and rubato, with tempos following the London Philharmonic recording with Walter Susskind conducting.
E
Movement 32 of Handel's Messiah is an aria for tenor (or soprano). Moderately, calm, and stately, it occurs just after Christ is killed, and reassures the audience that his death is temporary. Orchestral direction and tempos follow the London Philharmonic recording with Walter Susskind conducting.
A
A joyous upbeat SATB chorus, Movement 35 of Handel's Messiah. Short and sweet with a powerful orchestral accompaniment. Follows Handel's original score.
D
A short, powerful SATB chorus from Handel's Messiah, relating the first time that Christ speaks to the preachers after rising from the dead. Fast virtuosic lines in all parts, clearly doubled in the orchestra. An impressive concert work. Movement 37 in Handel's Messiah.
Bb
