The Long LineThe Long Line

George Frideric Handel

Samson, HWV.57

HWV 57 Composed 1741 Vocal

Samson (HWV 57) is a three-act oratorio from 1743 by George Frideric Handel, considered to be one of his finest dramatic works. It is usually performed as an oratorio in concert form, but on occasions has also been staged as an opera. The well-known arias "Let the bright Seraphim" (for soprano), "Total eclipse" (for tenor) and "Let their celestial concerts" (the final chorus) are often performed separately in concert.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Movements

Act I

  1. Sinfonia: Menuet
  2. Recitative. This day, a Solemn Feast to Dagon Held (Samson). Chorus. Awake the Trumpet’s Lofty Sound!
  3. Air. Ye Men of Gaza, hither bring (Philistine Woman) Chorus. Awake the trumpet's lofty sound!
  4. Air. Loud as the Thunder’s Awful Voice (Philistine Man)
  5. Air. Then free from sorrow, free from thrall (Philistine Woman). Chorus. Awake the trumpet's lofty sound!
  6. Recitative. Why by an Angel Was My Birth Foretold (Samson). Air. Torments, Alas! Are Not Confin’d (Samson)
  7. Recitative. Oh, Change Beyond Report, Thought or Belief! (Micah). Air. Oh, Mirror of Our Fickle State! (Micah)
  8. Recitative. Whom have I to complain of but myself (Samson, Micah). Air. Total Eclipse! No sun, no moon! (Samson)
  9. Accompagnato. Since light so necessary is to life (Micah)
  10. Chorus. Oh First Created Beam!
  11. Recitative. Ye see, my friends (Samson/Micah). Brethren and men of Dan (Manoah)
  12. Accompagnato. Oh, miserable change! (Manoah)
  13. Recitative. Oh, ever failing trust (Israelite man)
  14. Air. God of our fathers, what is man? (Israelite man)
  15. Accompagnato. The good we wish for, often proves our bane (Manoah)
  16. Air. Thy Glorious Deeds Inspired My Tongue (Manoah)
  17. Recitative. Justly these evils have befalI'n thy son (Samson/Manoah)
  18. Accompagnato. My griefs for this (Samson)
  19. Air. Why does the God of lsrael sleep? (Samson)
  20. Recitative. There Lies Our Hope! (Micah)
  21. Chorus. Then shall they know
  22. Recitative. For thee, my dearest son (Manoah/Samson)
  23. Accompagnato. My genial spirits droop (Samson)
  24. Recitative. Then long eternity (Micah)
  25. Air. Joys that are pure (Micah)
  26. Chorus. Then Round About the Starry Throne

Act II

  1. Recitative: Despair not thus! (Manoah/Samson)
  2. Air: Just are the ways of God to man (Mahoah)
  3. Recitative: My Evils Hopeless Are! (Samson/Micah)
  4. Air: Return, O God of Hosts! (Micah). Chorus: To Dust His Glory They Would Tread
  5. Recitative: But who is this ? (Micah/Samson/Dalila)
  6. Air: With plaintive notes (Delila)
  7. Recitative: Alas! Th'event was worse than I foresaw (Dalila). Did love constrain thee? (Samson)
  8. Air: Your charms to ruin led the way (Samson)
  9. Recitative: Forgive what's done (Dalila)
  10. Duet: My/Her faith and truth (Delilah/Virgin). Chorus: Her faith and truth
  11. Air: To fleeting pleasures (Delilah). Chorus: Her faith and truth.
  12. Recitative: Ne’er think of that! (Samson/Dalila).
  13. Duet:Traitor to love! I'll sue no more (Dalila/Samson)
  14. Recitative: She's gone! (Micah). So let her go! (Samson)
  15. Air: It is not virtue, valour, wit (Micah)
  16. Recitative: Favoured of heaven is he (Samson)
  17. Chorus: To man God's universal law
  18. Recitative: No words of peace (Micah/Harapha/Samson)
  19. Air: Honour and Arms (Harapha)
  20. Recitative: Put on your arms (Samson)
  21. Air: My strength is from the living God (Samson)
  22. Recitative: With thee, a man condemn'd (Harapha). Cam’st thou for this, vain boaster? (Samson/Harapha)
  23. Duet: Go, baffled coward (Samson/Harapha)
  24. Recitative: Here lies the proof (Micah)
  25. Chorus: Hear, Jacob's God, Jehovah, hear!
  26. Recitative: Dagon, arise, attend thy sacred feast! (Harapha)
  27. Air: To song and dance we give the day (Philistine man)
  28. Chorus: To song and dance we give the day
  29. Chorus: Fix'd in his everlasting seat

Act III

  1. Recitative: More trouble is behind (Micah/Samson/Harapha)
  2. Air: Presuming slave, to move their wrath! (Harapha)
  3. Recitative: Reflect then, Samson (Micah/Samson)
  4. Chorus: With thunder arm'd, great God, arise!
  5. Recitative: Be of good courage (Samson/Micah/Harapha)
  6. Accompagnato: Then shall I make Jehovah's glory known! (Samson)
  7. Air: Thus when the sun from's wat'ry bed (Samson)
  8. Accompagnato: With might endu'd above the sons of men (Micah)
  9. Air & Chorus: The Holy One of Israel be thy guide (Micah)
  10. Recitative: Old Manoa, with youthful steps (Mica/Manoah)
  11. Air & Chorus: Great Dagon has subdu'd our foe (Philistine man)
  12. Recitative: What noise of joy was that? (Manoah/Micah)
  13. Air: How willing my paternal love (Manoah)
  14. Recitative: Your hopes of his deliv'ry seem not vain (Micah/Manoah)
  15. Chorus: Hear us, our God! Oh, hear our cry!
  16. Recitative: Noise call you this? (Micah/Manoah)
  17. Recitative: Where shall I run (Messenger/Micah/Manoah)
  18. Air & Chorus: Ye sons of Israel, now lament (Micah)
  19. Recitative: Proceed we hence to find his body (Manoah)
  20. Symphony: Dead March
  21. Recitative: The body comes (Micah/Manoah)
  22. Air & Chorus: Glorious hero, may thy grave (Manoah)
  23. Solo & Chorus: The virgins too shall on their feastful days (Israelite woman/Virgins)
  24. Recitative: Come, come! (Manoah/Micah)
  25. Air: Let the bright seraphim (Israelite woman)
  26. Chorus: Let their celestial concerts all unite

Elsewhere

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