The Long LineThe Long Line

George Frideric Handel

Saul, HWV.53

HWV 53 Composed 1738 Vocal

Saul (HWV 53) is a dramatic oratorio in three acts written by George Frideric Handel with a libretto by Charles Jennens. Taken from the First Book of Samuel, the story of Saul focuses on the first king of Israel's relationship with his eventual successor, David—one which turns from admiration to envy and hatred, ultimately leading to the downfall of the eponymous monarch. The work, which Handel composed in 1738, includes the famous "Dead March", a funeral anthem for Saul and his son Jonathan following their deaths in the Battle of Mount Gilboa at the hands of the Philistines, and some of the composer's most dramatic choral pieces. Saul premiered successfully at the King's Theatre in London on 16 January 1739, and was revived by Handel in subsequent seasons.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Movements

  1. Symphony: Symphony: I. Allegro
  2. Symphony: Symphony: II. Larghetto
  3. Symphony: Symphony: III. Allegro
  4. Symphony: Symphony: IV. Andante larghetto

Act I

  1. Scene I, no. 2a. Chorus "How excellent Thy name, o Lord"
  2. Scene I, no. 3. Air "An infant raised by thy command" (Soprano)
  3. Scene I, no. 4. Trio "Along the monster atheist strode" (Alto, Tenor, Bass)
  4. Scene I, no. 5. "The Youth inspired by Thee, o Lord" (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
  5. Scene I, no. 2b. Chorus "How excellent Thy name, o Lord"
  6. Scene II, no. 6. Recitative "He comes, he comes" (Michal)
  7. Scene II, no. 7. Air "O God-like youth!" (Michal)
  8. Scene II, no. 8. Recitative "Behold, o King, the brave, victorious youth" (Abner, Saul, David)
  9. Scene II, no. 9. Air "O king, your favours with delight" (David)
  10. Scene II, no. 10. Recitative "Oh early piety!" (Jonathan)
  11. Scene II, no. 11. Air "What abject thoughts a prince can have!" (Merab)
  12. Scene II, no. 12. Recitative "Yet think, on whom this honour you bestow" (Merab)
  13. Scene II, no. 13. Air "Birth and fortune I despise" (Jonathan)
  14. Scene II, no. 14. Recitative "Go on, illustrious pair!" (High Priest)
  15. Scene II, no. 15. Air "While yet thy tide of blood runs high" (High Priest)
  16. Scene II, no. 16. Recitative "Thou, Merab, first in birth, be first in honour" (Saul, Merab)
  17. Scene II, no. 17. Air "My soul rejects the though with scorn" (Merab)
  18. Scene II, no. 18. Air "See, with what a scornful air" (Michal)
  19. Scene II, no. 19. Air "Ah, lovely youth, wast thou designed" (Michal)
  20. Scene II, no. 20. Symphony: Andante Allegro
  21. Scene II, no. 21. Recitative "Already see the daughters of the land" (Michal)
  22. Scene III, no. 22. Chorus "Welcome, welcome, mighty king!"
  23. Scene III, no. 23. Accompagnato "What do I hear?" (Saul)
  24. Scene III, no. 24. Chorus "David his ten thousands slew"
  25. Scene III, no. 25. Accompagnato "To him ten thousands" (Saul)
  26. Scene III, no. 26. Air "With rage I shall start burst his praises to hear" (Saul)
  27. Scene IV, no. 27. Recitative "Imprudent women!" (Jonathan, Michal)
  28. Scene IV, no. 28. Air "Fell rage and black despair possessed" (Michal)
  29. Scene IV, no. 29. Recitative "This but the smallest part of Harmony" (High Priest)
  30. Scene IV, no. 30. Accompagnato "By thee this universal frame" (High Priest)
  31. Scene V, no. 31. Recitative "Racked with infernal pains" (Abner)
  32. Scene V, no. 32. Air "Oh Lord, whose mercies numberless" (David)
  33. Scene V, no. 33. Symphony: Largo
  34. Scene V, no. 34. Recitative "'Tis All In Vain, his fury still continues" (Jonathan)
  35. Scene V, no. 35. Air "A serpent, in my bosom warned" (Saul)
  36. Scene V, no. 36. Recitative "Has he escaped my rage?" (Saul)
  37. Scene V, no. 37. Air "Capricious man" (Merab)
  38. Scene VI, no. 38. Accompagnato "O filial piety!" (Jonathan)
  39. Scene VI, no. 39. Air "No, cruel father, no!" (Jonathan)
  40. Scene VI, no. 40. Air "O Lord, whose providence" (High Priest)
  41. Scene VI, no. 41. Chorus "Preserve him for the glory of Thy name"

Act II

  1. Scene I, no. 42. Chorus "Envy! Eldest born of hell!"
  2. Scene II, no. 43. Recitative "Ah! Dearest friend" (Jonathan)
  3. Scene II, no. 44. Air "But sooner Jordan's stream, I swear" (Jonathan)
  4. Scene II, no. 45. Recitative "Oh strange vicissitude!" (David, Jonathan)
  5. Scene II, no. 46. Air "Such haughy beauties" (David)
  6. Scene II, no. 47. Recitative "My father comes" (Jonathan)
  7. Scene III, no. 48. Recitative "Hast thou obeyed my orders" (Saul, Jonathan)
  8. Scene III, no. 49. Air "Sin not, o king, against the youth" (Jonathan)
  9. Scene III, no. 50. Air "As great Jehovah lives (Saul)
  10. Scene III, no. 51. Air "From cities stormed, and battles won" (Jonathan)
  11. Scene IV, no. 52. Recitative "Appear, my friend" (Jonathan, Saul)
  12. Scene IV, no. 53. Air "Your words, o king, my loyal heart" (David)
  13. Scene IV, no. 54. Recitative "Yes, he shall wed my daughter!" (Saul)
  14. Scene V, no. 55. Recitative "A father's will has authorised my love" (Michal)
  15. Scene V, no. 56. Duet "O fairest of ten thousand fair" (Michal, David)
  16. Scene V, no. 57. Chorus "Is there a man"
  17. Scene V, no. 58. Symphony: Largo - Allegro
  18. Scene VI, no. 59. Recitative "Thy father is a cruel!" (David)
  19. Scene VI, no. 60. Duet "At persecution I can laugh" (David, Michal)
  20. Scene VII, no. 61. Recitative "Whom dost thou seek" (Michal, Doeg)
  21. Scene VII, no. 62. Air "No, no, let the guilty tremble" (Michal)
  22. Scene VIII, no. 63. Recitative "Mean as he was, he is my brother now" (Merab)
  23. Scene VIII, no. 64. Air "Author of peace, who canst controul" (Merab)
  24. Scene IX, no. 65. Symphony: Allegro
  25. Scene IX, no. 66. Accompagnato "The time at length is come" (Saul)
  26. Scene X, no. 67. Recitative "Where is the son of Jesse!" (Saul, Jonathan)
  27. Scene X, no. 68. Chorus "Oh fatal consequence of Rage"

Act III

  1. Scene I, no. 69. Accompagnato "Wretch that I am" (Saul)
  2. Scene I, no. 70. Accompagnato "'Tis said, here lives a woman" (Saul)
  3. Scene II, no. 71. Recitative "With me what would'st thou" (Witch, Saul)
  4. Scene II, no. 72. Air "Infernal spirits" (Witch of Endor)
  5. Scene III, no. 73. Accompagnato "Why hast thou forced me from the realm of peace" (Samuel, Saul)
  6. Scene III, no. 74. Symphony: Allegro
  7. Scene IV, no. 75. Recitative "Whence comest thou?" (David, Amalekite)
  8. Scene IV, no. 76. Air "Impious wretch, of race accurst!" (David)
  9. Scene IV, no. 77. March: Grave
  10. Scene V, no. 78. Chorus "Mourn, Israel!"
  11. Scene V, no. 79. Air "Oh let it not in Gath be heard" (High Priest)
  12. Scene V, no. 80. Air "From this unhappy day" (Merab)
  13. Scene V, no. 81. Air "Brave Jonathan his bow never drew" (David)
  14. Scene V, no. 82. Chorus "Eagles were not so swift as they"
  15. Scene V, no. 83. Air "In sweetest harmony they lived!" (Michal)
  16. Scene V, no. 84. Solo "O fatal day" (David and Chorus)
  17. Scene V, no. 85. Recitative "Ye men of Judah, weep no more!" (Abner)
  18. Scene V, no. 86. Chorus "Gird on thy sword, thou man of might"

Elsewhere

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