featuring the Bob Jones University combined choirs and orchestra Warren Cook, Conductor Laura Brundage . Soprano Marianne Freeman . Mezzo-Soprano Jason Rush . Tenor David Parker . Bass Foreword And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. I Timothy 3:16 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 These verses, selected by Jennens, the librettist, formed a preface to the word-book of the first performance in April 1742 at Dublin. Handel says he will do nothing next winter, but I hope I shall persuade him to set another Scripture collection I have made for him, perform it for his own benefit in Passion week. I hope he will lay out his whole genius and skill upon it, that the composition may excel all his former compositions, as the Subject excels every other subject. The Subject is Messiah . Charles Jennens, librettist to Edward Holdsworth, 10 July 1741 Production Staff Darren Lawson . Producer Rod McCarty . Production Manager Bob Johansen . Sound Designer Part One Chorus And He shall purify the sons of Sinfonia (Orchestra) Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Arioso (Tenor) Malachi 3:3 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably Recitative (Mezzo) to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that Behold, a virgin shall conceive, her warfare is accomplished, that her and bear a Son, and shall call His iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him name Emmanuel, “God with us.” that crieth in the wilderness: prepare Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Air (Mezzo) and Chorus Isaiah 40:1–3 O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high Air (Tenor) mountain. O thou that tellest good Every valley shall be exalted, tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy and every mountain and hill voice with strength; lift it up, be not made low, the crooked straight, afraid; say unto the cities of Judah: and the rough places plain. Behold your God! Arise, shine, Isaiah 40:4 for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Chorus Isaiah 40:9; 60:1 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall Chorus see it together: for the mouth For unto us a Child is born, unto us of the Lord hath spoken it. a Son is given, and the government Isaiah 40:5 shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Recitative (Bass) Counsellor, the mighty God, the Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. once, a little while, and I shall shake Isaiah 9:6 the heavens, and the earth, the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all Pifa: “Pastoral Symphony” (Orchestra) nations, and the desire of all nations Recitative (Soprano) shall come. The Lord, whom ye seek, There were shepherds abiding shall suddenly come to His temple, in the field, keeping watch even the messenger of the covenant, over their flock by night. whom ye delight in: behold, He shall Luke 2:8 come, saith the Lord of Hosts. Arioso (Soprano) Haggai 2:6–7; Malachi 3:1 And, lo, the angel of the Lord Air (Bass) came upon them, and the glory But who may abide the day of His of the Lord shone round about coming? And who shall stand when He them, and they were sore afraid. appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire. Luke 2:9 Malachi 3:2 Recitative (Soprano) meek and lowly of heart, and ye And the angel said unto them: Fear will find rest unto your souls. not; for behold, I bring you good Matthew 11:28–29 tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Part Two Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Chorus Luke 2:10–11 Behold, the Lamb of God, that Arioso (Soprano) taketh away the sin of the world! And suddenly there was with the John 1:29 angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying: Air (Mezzo) Luke 2:13 He was despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and Chorus acquainted with grief. Glory to God in the highest, and peace Isaiah 53:3 on earth, good will toward men. Chorus Luke 2:14 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and Air (Soprano) carried our sorrow; He was wounded Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for our transgressions; He was bruised Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! for our iniquities; the chastisement Behold thy King cometh unto thee: of our peace was upon Him. He is the righteous Saviour, and He Isaiah 53:4–5 shall speak peace unto the heathen. Recitative (Tenor) Zechariah 9:9–10 Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; Recitative (Mezzo) He is full of heaviness; He looked Then shall the eyes of the blind for some to have pity on Him, be opened, and the ears of the but there was no man; neither deaf unstopped. Then shall the found He any to comfort Him. lame man leap as an hart, and the Psalm 69:20 tongue of the dumb shall sing. Isaiah 35:5–6 Arioso (Tenor) Air (Mezzo and Soprano) Behold, and see if there be any He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; sorrow like unto His sorrow. and He shall gather the lambs with His Lamentations 1:12 arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Recitative (Tenor) Isaiah 40:11 He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions Come unto Him all ye that labor of Thy people was He stricken. and are heavy laden, and He will Isaiah 53:8 give you rest. Take His yoke upon you and learn of Him, for He is Air (Tenor) Chorus But Thou didst not leave His soul Worthy is the Lamb that was slain in hell; nor didst Thou suffer thine and hath redeemed us to God by His Holy One to see corruption. blood, to receive power, and riches, Psalm 16:10 and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto Him Part Three that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Air (Soprano) Revelation 5:12–13 I know that my Redeemer liveth, Chorus and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though Hallelujah; for the Lord God worms destroy this body, yet in omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom my flesh shall I see God. For now of this world is become the kingdom is Christ risen from the dead, the of our Lord, and of His Christ; and first fruits of them that sleep. He shall reign for ever and ever, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Job 19:25–26; 1 Corinthians 15:20 Revelation 19:6; 11:15; 19:16 Chorus Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 Recitative (Bass) Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 Air (Bass) The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:52–53 Orchestra Violin I Bass Isabel Vosburgh‡ Brian Gencarelli† Sarah Herbster Kathryn Hughes MaryKatherine Brown Jacob Bradford Jonathan Eernisse Steve Koelsch Danielle Boyle Emily Carroll Oboe Gina Weigle Candice Taylor Amanda Townsend Samantha Pfeiffer Robert Chest Megan Westphal Bassoon Violin II Lauren Piccirillo Waid Katie Taylor† Lauren Flower Trumpet Addison Nichols Matthew Phillips Katrina Kahlhamer Aaron Frish Abby Harris Isabella Skellenger Ellie Myers Timpani Lizzie Conrad Matthew Myers Caleb Whiteley Harpsichord Viola Jean Cook Lily Fonte† Jocelyn Brazeal Rehearsal Piano Haley Kessler Emma Fordham Jean Cook Amber Swager Emma VanDenBerg Organ Ed Dunbar Cello Anne Smith† Emily Pilgrim Daniel Hudson Orchestra Faculty Nathan Herbster Karin Labadorf Michael Moore, director Brandon Ironside, violins Rachel Hall, violas Daria Janssen, cellos † Principal Bruce Cox, brass ‡ Concertmaster Esther Waite, woodwinds Choirs University Singers Grant Hermetz, Giovanni Marlow, Pattye Casarow, director Alexander Moreno, John Schaaf Bass: David Earwood, Douglas Flynn, Jared Soprano: Jeni Aiken, Grace Ames, Hope Arendse, Lane, Matthew Loller, Michael Martinson, Janalyn Berry, Jenna Bishop, Haley Carr, Hans Nelson, Samuel Petrocco, Samuel Bethany Charleston, Kyleigh Elliott, Naomi Roshan, Nathanael Schaal, Joseph Sell, Goetz, Eliza Hansen, Sarah Harris, Haleigh Noah Villiger, Matt Camastro Henegan, Abby Herr, Sarah Grace Johnson, Sarah Knisely, Amy Logeman, Gioia Marinelli, Karis McGuire, Kaitlynn Ranck, Hannah Scott, Collegiate Choir Leah Scott, Heather Spencer, Jenna Webb Nikki Eoute, director Alto: Esther Anderson, Zeta Barton, Emma Soprano: Katie French, Priscilla Henry, Molly DiMalanta, Erica Dion, Giovanna Sasamine Jorgensen, Katelyn Lain, Andrea Lawrence, dos Santos, Julia Fuller, London Jacquot, Erin Matthews, Caroline Reese, Elise Snow, Amelia McKeithan, Janine Mendoza, Hannah Rachel Stoner, Rebekah Weaver, Megan Needham, Katelin Orr, Hannah Pierre, Westphal, Charissa Willis, Taylor Worley Kayla Ramos, Krysten Richter, Camryn Alto: Autumn Buchanan, Maria Hallas, Michaela Rickard, Kendall Rogers, Caroline Sanders, Heacox, Katie Johnson, Haley Kessler, Aleigh Melony Sterrett, Aimee Tewes, Anna Papagno, Kristina Poore, Mikayla Steele, Thompson, Emma Van Den Berg, Katherine Anne Thompson, Brenna VanderSchel Vaughn, Hannah Woo, Cindy Yepez Tenor: Melchisedek Dulcio, Kevin Hansen, Dave Tenor: David Disler, Zachary Felber, Ben Gabert, Ritschard, Noah Scahill, Benjamin Weber Sorren Greene, Aaron Groves, Zachary Bass: George Chambers, Jason French, Haynes, Nathaniel Hendry, Micah Lawson, Michael Galdamez, Gideon Johnston, Jonathan Madeti, Cooper Morter, Stephan Esteban Pacquing, Phillip Perry, Steven Riner, Lance Rollison, Johnathon Smith, Platt, Josiah Smith, Andrew Taylor J .C .