KWHMusic: Handel Judas Maccabaeus (HWV 63, 1747)

Original source: http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/judas.htm.

Georg Friedrich Händel

Judas Maccabaeus

HWV 63

(1747)

A Sacred Drama

Words by Thomas Morell

Let me (the creator of this blog) point out with pleasure
the magnificent singing of the soloists and chorus
in the Somary/English Chamber Orchestra recording,
in particular, the beautiful work of

soprano Heather Harper (e.g., #34, “From mighty kings”),

contralto Helen Watts (e.g., #53, “Father of Heav'n!”),

their duets
#19, “Come, ever-smiling liberty”, #31, “Sion now her head shall raise”,
#35, “Hail, hail, Judea, happy land!”, and #66, “O lovely peace”,

tenor Alexander Young (Judas)
(e.g., #13, “Call forth thy pow'rs”, #45, “Sound an alarm!”,
#62, “With honour let desert be crown'd,
The trumpet ne'er in vain shall sound;”),

bass John Shirley-Quirk
(e.g., #10, “Arm, arm ye brave!”, #43, “The Lord worketh wonders”,
#67, “Rejoice, O Judah!”),

and

the Amor Artis Chorale
(e.g., #20, “Lead on, lead on!”, #26, “Hear us, O Lord”, and
#52, “We worship God, and God alone.”).

2015-10-06:
The YouTube video of the complete Johannes Sommary performance to which I linked
has unfortunately been deleted.
(Update: There now (as of 2016, at least) is a playlist of the Somary-led performance.)
In its place, a video of excerpts is available:

Published on May 21, 2015 by VSP musicali

The best musical highlights from the oratorio Judas Maccabeus by George Frideric Handel (1746)

1. Overture 00:00
2. Chorus: Mourn, ye afflicted children 04:43
3. Aria (Simon) and chorus: Arm, arm, ye brave 11:17
4. Aria (Judas): Call forth thy powers 15:48
5. Duet (Israelitish woman and man): Come, ever-smiling Liberty 17:54
6. Chorus of soldiers: Disdainful of danger 19:27
7. Chorus: Hear us, O Lord 21:37
8. Chorus: Fallen is the foe 25:06
9. Solo and chorus: Sion now her head shall raise 28:38
10.Solo and chorus: Hail, Judea, happy land 34:24
11. Aria (Israelitish woman) and chorus: Ah! wretched Israel 36:49
12. Aria (Israelitish woman): Wise men, flattering, may deceive you 44:06
13. Aria (Judas) and chorus: Sound an alarm 49:45
14. Aria (Israelitish man): Father of Heaven 53:56
15. Chorus of youths and virgins: See the conquering hero comes 01:00:15
16. March 01:03:04
17. Solo and chorus: Sing unto God 01:04:58
18. Aria (Judas): With honour let desert be crowned 01:08:03
19. Duet (Israelitish woman and man): O lovely peace 01:11:17
20. Aria (Simon) and chorus: Rejoice, O Judah 01:15:35

Heather Harper
Helen Watts
Alexander Young
John Shirley-Quirk
Amor Artis Chorale
Wandsworth School Boys Choir
English Chamber Orchestra
Johannes Somary

Note this music was written in 1746
to celebrate the victory of
Prince William Augustus (son of George II, uncle to George III)
over “Bonnie Prince Charlie” (grandson of James II)
(Prince William and “Bonnie Prince Charlie”
were fifth- and fourth-, respectively, generation descendents
of James I, the first Stuart monarch of England,
himself the (only) son of Mary, Queen of Scots)
at the Battle of Culloden in 1746
to defeat the Jacobite rising of 1745 (aka “The Forty-Five”).
That explains the militant and triumphant tone throughout the work,
e.g. #27, “Fall’n is the foe”
(see also a splendid video of this conducted by Howard Arman).

George Frideric Handel HWV 63 Judas Maccabaeus
#	Dramatis Personæ and Libretto - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	English Chamber Orchestra Amor Artis Chorale Wandsworth School Boys Choir Johannes Somary 2h24m Note: This is, in my opinion, a splendid performance, but this YouTube upload seems to be marred by some CD clicks as if the CD had scratches. Still, a very worthy video (audio) to hear.
@Wikipedia, @IMSLP, YouTube playlist, YouTube playlist for Somary performance
Judas Maccabaeus (tenor)		Alexander Young
Simon, his Brother (bass)		John Shirley-Quirk
Israelitish Woman (soprano)		Heather Harper
Israelitish Man (mezzo-soprano)		Helen Watts
Eupolemus, the Jewish Ambassador to Rome (alto)
First Messenger (alto)
Second Messenger (bass)
Chorus of Israelites
Chorus of Youths
Chorus of Virgins
ACT ONE
1	Overture Largo Allegro Largo	1-ECO 1/Allegro-ECO
Scene 1
Chorus of Israelites, men and women, lamenting the death of Mattathias, the father of Judas Maccabaeus.
2	Chorus of Israelites Mourn, ye afflicted children, the remains Of captive Judah, mourn in solemn strains; Your sanguine hopes of liberty give o'er, Your hero, friend and father is no more.	(2-ECO) 2-ECO 2/Your-ECO
3	Recitative Israelitish Man Well, may your sorrows, brethren, flow In all th'expressive signs of woe: Your softer garments tear, And squalid sackcloth wear, Your drooping heads with ashes strew, And with the flowig tear your cheeks bedew. Israelitish Woman Daughters, let your distressful cries And loud lament ascend the skies; Your tender bosoms beat, and tear, With hands remorseless, your dishevell'd hair; For pale and breathless Mattathias lies, Sad emblem of his country's miseries!	3-ECO
4	Duet Israelitish Woman and Man From this dread scene, these adverse pow'rs, Ah, whither shall we fly? O Solyma! Thy boasted tow'rs In smoky ruins lie.
5	Chorus of Israelites For Sion lamentation make, With words that weep, and tears that speak.	5-ECO
6	Recitative Israelitish Man Not vain is all this storm of grief; To vent our sorrows, gives relief. Wretched indeed! But let not Judah's race Their ruin with desponding arms embrace. Distractful doubt and desperation Ill become the chosen nation, Chosen by the great I AM, The Lord of hosts, who, still the same, We trust, will give attentive ear To the sincerity of pray'r.	6-ECO
7	Air Israelitish Man Pious orgies, pious airs, Decent sorrow, decent pray'rs, Will to the Lord ascend, and move His pity, and regain His love.	(7-ECO) 7-ECO
8	Chorus of Israelites O Father, whose Almighty pow'r The Heav'ns, and earth, and seas adore; The hearts of Judah, thy delight, In one defensive band unite. And grant a leader bold, and brave, If not to conquer, born to save.	(8-ECO) 8-ECO (8/hearts-ECO) 8/hearts-ECO (8/grant-ECO) 8/grant-ECO
9	Accompagnato Simon I feel, I feel the deity within, Who, the bright cherubim between, His radiant glory erst display'd; To Israel's distressful pray'r He hath vouchsafe'd a gracious ear, And points out Maccabaeus to their aid: Judas shall set the captive free, And lead us all to victory.	9-ECO
10	Air Simon Arm, arm, ye brave! A noble cause, The cause of Heav'n your zeal demands. In defence of your nation, religion, and laws, The Almighty Jehovah will strengthen your hands. Arm, arm. . . da capo	(10-ECO) 10-ECO (10/In-ECO) 10/In-ECO
11	Chorus of Israelites We come, we come, in bright array, Judah, thy sceptre to obey.	(11-ECO) 11-ECO 11/Judah-ECO
12	Recitative Judas Maccabaeus 'Tis well, my friends; with transport I behold The spirit of our fathers, fam'd of old For their exploits in war. Oh, may they fire With active courage you, their sons inspire: As when the mighty Joshua fought, And those amazing wonders wrought, Stood still, obedient to his voice, the sun, Till kings he had destroy'd, and kingdoms won.	12-ECO
13	Air Judas Maccabaeus Call forth thy pow'rs, my soul, and dare The conflict of unequal war. Great is the glory of the conqu'ring sword, That triumphs in sweet liberty restor'd. Call forth. . . da capo	(13-ECO) 13-ECO (13/Great-ECO) 13/Great-ECO
14	Recitative Israelitish Woman To Heav'n's Almighty king we kneel, For blessings on this exemplary zeal. Bless him, Jehovah, bless him, and once more To thy own Israel liberty restore.
15	Air Israelitish Woman O liberty, thou choicest treasure, Seat of virtue, source of pleasure! Life, without thee, knows no blessing, No endearment worth caressing.
16	Air Israelitish Woman Come, ever-smiling liberty, And with thee bring thy jocund train. For thee we pant, and sigh for thee, With whom eternal pleasures reign. Come. . . da capo
17	Recitative Israelitish Man O Judas, may these noble views inspire All Israel with thy true heroic fire!
18	Air Israelitish Man 'Tis liberty, dear liberty alone, That gives fresh beauty to the sun; That bids all nature look more gay, And lovely life with pleasure steal away.
19	Duet Israelitish Woman and Man Come, ever-smiling liberty, And with thee bring thy jocund train. For thee we pant, and sigh for thee, With whom eternal pleasures reign.	19-ECO 19/For-ECO
20	Chorus of Israelites Lead on, lead on! Judah disdains The galling load of hostile chains.	20-ECO
21	Recitative Judas Maccabaeus So will'd my father now at rest In the eternal mansions of the blest: "Can ye behold," said he "the miseries, In which the long-insulted Judah lies? Can ye behold their dire distress, And not, at least, attempt redress?" Then, faintly, with expiring breath, "Resolve, my sons, on liberty, or death!" We come! Oh see, thy sons prepare The rough habiliments of war; With hearts intrepid, and revengeful hands, To execute, O sire, thy dread commands.	21-ECO 21/We_come-ECO
22	Semi-chorus of Israelitish Men Disdainful of danger, we'll rush on the foe, That Thy pow'r, O Jehovah, all nations may know.	(22-ECO) 22-ECO
23	Recitative Judas Maccabaeus Ambition! If e'er honour was thine aim, Challenge it here: The glorious cause gives sanction to thy claim.	23-ECO
24	Air Judas Maccabaeus No unhallow'd desire Our breasts shall inspire, Nor lust of unbounded pow'r! But peace to obtain: Free peace let us gain, And conquest shall ask no more.	(24-ECO) 24-ECO (24/But-ECO) 24/But-ECO
25	Recitative Israelitish Man Haste we, my brethren, haste we to the field, Dependant on the Lord, our strength and shield.	25-ECO
26	Chorus of Israelites Hear us, O Lord, on Thee we call, Resolv'd on conquest, or a glorious fall.	26-ECO 26/Resolv'd-ECO (26/Resolv'd-ECO) 26/Resolv'd-ECO
ACT TWO
27	Chorus of Israelites Fall'n is the foe; so fall Thy foes, O Lord, Where warlike Judas wields his righteous sword!	(27-ECO) 27-ECO (see also a splendid video of this conducted by Howard Arman)
28	Recitative Israelitish Man Victorious hero! Fame shall tell, With her last breath, how Apollonius fell, And all Samaria fled, by thee pursued Through hills of carnage and a sea of blood; While thy resistless prowess dealt around, With their own leader's sword, the deathful wound. Thus, too, the haughty Seron, Syria's boast, Before thee fell with his unnumber'd host.
29	Air Israelitish Man So rapid thy course is, Not numberless forces Withstand thy all-conquering sword. Though nations surround thee, No pow'r shall confound thee, Till freedom again be restor'd. So rapid. . . da capo
30	Recitative Israelitish Man Well may we hope our freedom to receive, Such sweet transporting views thy actions give.
31	Duet Israelitish Woman and Man Sion now her head shall raise, Tune your harps to songs of praise.	(31-ECO) 31-ECO
32	Chorus of Israelites Sion now her head shall raise, Tune your harps to songs of praise.	32-ECO
33	Recitative Israelitish Woman Oh, let eternal honours crown his name: Judas, first worthy in the rolls of fame. Say, "He put on the breast-plate as a giant, And girt his warlike harness about him; In his acts he was like a lion, And like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey."	33-ECO
34	Air Israelitish Woman From mighty kings he took the spoil, And with his acts made Judah smile. Judah rejoiceth in his name, And triumphs in her hero's fame. From mighty kings. . . da capo	(34-ECO) 34-ECO (34/Judah-ECO) 34/Judah-ECO
35	Duet Israelitish Woman and Man Hail, hail, Judea, happy land! Salvation prospers in his hand.	(35-ECO) 35-ECO
36	Chorus of Israelites Hail, hail, Judea, happy land! Salvation prospers in his hand.	36-ECO
37	Recitative Judas Maccabaeus Thanks to my brethren; but look up to Heav'n; To Heav'n let glory and all praise be giv'n; To Heav'n give your applause, Nor add the second cause, As once your fathers did in Midian, Saying, "The sword of God and Gideon." It was the Lord that for his Israel fought, And this our wonderful salvation wrought.	-ECO
38	Air Judas Maccabaeus How vain is man, who boasts in fight The valour of gigantic might! And dreams not that a hand unseen Directs and guides this weak machine. How vain. . . da capo	(38-ECO) 38-ECO (38/And-ECO) 38/And-ECO
39	Recitative First Messenger O Judas, O my brethren! New scenes of bloody war In all their horrors rise. Prepare, prepare, Or soon we fall a sacrifice To great Antiochus; from th'Egyptian coast, (Where Ptolemy hath Memphis and Pelusium lost) He sends the valiant Gorgias, and commands His proud, victorious bands To root out Israel's strength, and to erase Ev'ry memorial of the sacred place.	39-ECO
40	Air Israelitish Woman Ah! wretched, wretched Israel! fall'n, how low, From joyous transport to desponding woe.	Note: This upload of this recording has a major CD glitch at this point, from 1h13m to 1h15m. (40-ECO) 40-ECO
41	Chorus Israelites Ah! wretched, wretched Israel! fall'n, how low, From joyous transport to desponding woe.	Note: This is where the video gets past the CD glitch. 41/recovery-ECO
42	Recitative Simon Be comforted, nor think these plagues are sent For your destruction, but for chastisement. Heav'n oft in mercy punisheth, that sin May feel its own demerits from within, And urge not utter ruin. Turn to God, And draw a blessing from His iron rod.	42-ECO 42-ECO
43	Air Simon The Lord worketh wonders His glory to raise; And still, as he thunders, Is fearful in praise.	(43-ECO) 43-ECO (43/And-ECO) 43/And-ECO
44	Recitative Judas Maccabaeus My arms! Against this Gorgias will I go. The Idumean governor shall know How vain, how ineffective his design, While rage his leader, and Jehovah mine.	44-ECO
45	Air Judas Maccabaeus Sound an alarm! Your silver trumpets sound, And call the brave, and only brave, around. Who listeth, follow: to the field again! Justice with courage is a thousand men. Sound an alarm. . . da capo	45-ECO (45/Who-ECO) 45/Who-ECO 45-ECO
46	Chorus We hear, we hear the pleasing dreadful call, And follow thee to conquest; if to fall, For laws, religion, liberty, we fall.	(46-ECO) 46-ECO 46/If-ECO
47	Recitative Simon Enough! To Heav'n we leave the rest. Such gen'rous ardour firing ev'ry breast, We may divide our cares; the field be thine, O Judas, and your sanctuary mine; For Sion, holy Sion, seat of God, In ruinous heaps, is by the heathen trod; Such profanation calls for swift redress, If e'er in battle Israel hopes success.	47-ECO
48	Air Simon With pious hearts, and brave as pious, O Sion, we thy call attend, Nor dread the nations that defy us, God our defender, God our friend.	(48-ECO) 48-ECO (48/Nor-ECO) 48/Nor-ECO
49	Recitative Israelitish Man Ye worshippers of God, Down, down with the polluted altars, down. Hurl Jupiter Olympius from his throne, Nor reverence Bacchus with his ivy crown And ivy-wreathed rod. Our fathers never knew Him, or his beastly crew, Or, knowing, scorn'd such idol vanities. Israelitish Woman No more in Sion let the virgin throng, Wild with delusion, pay their nightly song To Ashtoreth, yclep't the Queen of Heav'n. Hence to Phoenicia be the goddess driv'n, Or be she, with her priests and pageants, hurl'd To the remotest corner of the world, Ne'er to delude us more with pious lies.	49-ECO
50	Air Israelitish Woman Wise men, flatt'ring, may deceive us With their vain, mysterious art; Magic charms can ne'er relieve us, Nor can heal the wounded heart. But true wisdom can relieve us, Godlike wisdom from above; This alone can ne'er deceive us, This alone all pains remove. Wise men. . . da capo	(50-ECO) 50-ECO (50/But-ECO) 50/But-ECO
51	Duet Israelitish Woman and Man Oh, never, never bow we down To the rude stock or sculptur'd stone. [Extra text (“... ever obedient ...”) here in the Somary performance.] We worship God, and God alone.	(51-ECO) 51-ECO (51/We-ECO) 51/Ever_obedient-ECO
52	Chorus of Israelites We never, never will bow down To the rude stock or sculptur'd stone. We worship God, and God alone.	52-ECO 52/worship_God_alone-ECO
ACT THREE
53	53. Air Israelitish Man Father of Heav'n! From Thy eternal throne, Look with an eye of blessing down, While we prepare with holy rites, To solemnize the feasts of lights. And thus our grateful hearts employ; And in Thy praise This altar raise, With carols of triumphant joy. Father of Heav'n. . . da capo	(53-ECO) 53-ECO (53/And-ECO) 53/And-ECO Cf. Sarah Connolly singing this
54	Accompagnato Israelitish Man See, see yon flames, that from the altar broke, In spiring streams pursue the trailing smoke. The fragrant incense mounts the yielding air; Sure presage that the Lord hath heard our pray'r.	54-ECO
55	55. Recitative Israelitish Woman Oh, grant it, Heav'n, that our long woes may cease, And Judah's daughters taste the calm of peace, Sons, brothers, husbands to bewail no more, Tortur'd at home, or havock'd in the war.	55-ECO
56	Air Israelitish Woman So shall the lute and harp awake, And sprightly voice sweet descant run, Seraphic melody to make, In the pure strains of Jesse's son.	(55-ECO) 55-ECO (55/Seraphic-ECO) 55/Seraphic-ECO
57	Recitative First Messenger From Capharsalama, on eagle wings I fly, With tidings of impetuous joy: Came Lysias, with his host, array'd In coat of mail; their massy shields Of gold and brass, flash'd lightning o'er the fields, While the huge tow'r-back'd elephants display'd A horrid front. But Judas, undismay'd, Met, fought, and vanquish'd all the rageful train. Yet more, Nicanor lies with thousands slain; The blasphemous Nicanor, who defied The living God, and, in his wanton pride, A public monument ordain'd Of victories yet ungain'd. Second Messenger But lo, the conqueror comes; and on his spear, To dissipate all fear, He bears the vaunter's head and hand, That threaten'd desolation to the land.	57-ECO
58	Chorus Youths See, the conqu'ring hero comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums. Sports prepare, the laurel bring, Songs of triumph to him sing. Virgins See the godlike youth advance! Breathe the flutes, and lead the dance; Myrtle wreaths, and roses twine, To deck the hero's brow divine. Israelites See, the conqu'ring hero comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums. Sports prepare, the laurel bring, Songs of triumph to him sing. See, the conqu'ring hero comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums.	58-ECO 58/Youths-ECO 58/Israelites-ECO
59	March	59-ECO
60	Soli (alto, tenor) & Chorus of Israelites Sing unto God, and high affections raise, To crown this conquest with unmeasur'd praise.	(60-ECO) 60-ECO cf. scrolling bar graph of a MIDI version of this music
61	Recitative Judas Maccabaeus Sweet flow the strains, that strike my feasted ear; Angels might stoop from Heav'n to hear The comely song we sing, To Israel's Lord and King. But pause awhile: due obsequies prepare To those who bravely fell in war. To Eleazar special tribute pay; Through slaughter'd troops he cut his way To the distinguish'd elephant, and, whelm'd beneath The stabbed monster, triumph'd in a glorious death.	61-ECO
62	Air Judas Maccabaeus With honour let desert be crown'd, The trumpet ne'er in vain shall sound; But, all attentive to alarms, The willing nations fly to arms, And, conquering or conquer'd, claim the prize Of happy earth, or far more happy skies.	(62-ECO) 62-ECO (62/But-ECO) 62/But-ECO
63	Recitative Eupolemus Peace to my countrymen; peace and liberty. From the great senate of imperial Rome, With a firm league of amity, I come. Rome, whate'er nation dare insult us more, Will rouse, in our defence, her vet'ran pow'r, And stretch her vengeful arm, by land or sea To curb the proud, and set the injur'd free.	63-ECO
64	Chorus of Israelites To our great God be all the honour giv'n, That grateful hearts can send from earth to Heav'n.	64-ECO
65	Recitative Israelitish Woman Again to earth let gratitude descend, Praiseworthy is our hero and our friend. Come then, my daughters, choicest art bestow, To weave a chaplet for the victor's brow; And in your songs for ever be confess'd The valour that preserv'd, the pow'r that bless'd, Bless'd you with hours, that scatter, as they fly, Soft quiet, gentle love, and boundless joy.	65-ECO
66	Air (Duet) Israelitish Woman (and Man) O lovely peace, with plenty crown'd, Come, spread thy blessings all around. Let fleecy flocks the hills adorn, And vallies smile with wavy corn. Let the shrill trumpet cease, nor other sound But nature's songsters wake the cheerful morn. O lovely peace. . . da capo	(66-ECO) 66-ECO (66/Let_fleecy-ECO) 66/Let_fleecy-ECO cf. Sarah Connolly and Rosemary Joshua singing this
67	Air Simon Rejoice, O Judah, and, in songs divine, With cherubim and seraphim harmonious join!	(67-ECO) 67-ECO 67/With-ECO
68	Chorus of Israelites Hallelujah! Amen.	(68-ECO) 68-ECO