The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
Sound Biblical Music and Worship
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” — Ephesians 5:19
The playlist builder is kept for the students of the University. SIGN IN — or enrol free — and your playlists will stand here in Praise Ye the Lord, and on your profile’s My Worship List. Build a list, then open any hymn’s sheet in the Top 100 and tap its number to add it.
THE GRAND HALL“Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.” — Psalm 150:3
PREMIERE FEATURE
Handel’s Messiah
the complete oratorio — every word sung from the King James ScripturesThe Complete Performance
The whole oratorio in one sitting — all three parts, the published performance re-dressed in the university’s own presentation, the sung Scriptures on screen as they are sung. Two hours and seventeen minutes: set aside an evening, open your King James Bible, and hear the whole counsel of God in song.
Handel’s Messiah — complete · 2:17:17 · sung text from the King James Bible (libretto by Charles Jennens)
Listen to Handel’s Messiah — Individual Tracks56 numbers · Parts I–IIICOLLAPSE▸
Every movement of the oratorio stands on its own below — press play to hear any single number, or open its link to share that one song. The words sung are the King James Scriptures named beside each number.
Part I
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
Part II
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
Part III
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The score — Handel’s Messiah, vocal score (G. Schirmer, 1912). Public domain.
The History of Handel’s Messiah ▾
The greatest oratorio ever written is a sermon in music: George Frideric Handel composed Messiah in twenty-four days in 1741, and Charles Jennens built its libretto entirely from the words of the King James Bible — not one line of man’s poetry in it. It opens with Isaiah’s comfort (“Comfort ye my people”), rises through the prophecy of the virgin birth and the shepherds of Luke 2, descends into Isaiah 53 (“He was despised… Surely he hath borne our griefs”), and crowns the cross with the Hallelujah chorus of Revelation: “And he shall reign for ever and ever.” Part III closes with Job’s faith and Paul’s resurrection chapter: “I know that my redeemer liveth.”
It belongs here, with the worship: for two and a half centuries the church has stood for the Hallelujah chorus — legend says King George II rose first and audiences have followed him ever since — because for those four minutes the whole Bible seems to sing at once. Set aside an evening, open your King James Bible to Isaiah 9, Isaiah 53, Luke 2, 1 Corinthians 15, and Revelation 5 and 19, and listen to the Scriptures themselves, sung.
“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 (KJV)
Worship that is sound in doctrine and beautiful in song: the great hymns of the faith, congregational choirs with the organ, and the best of modern worship — every song plays right here on the page — music only, its video at YouTube — from its maker’s own YouTube channel.