Since today is Easter Sunday, here’s something appropriate for the feast: “I know that my Redeemer liveth” from Handel’s Messiah. This performance is by the Choir of New College, Oxford; the soloist is eleven-year-old Henry Jenkinson. The video blurb states that “This recording is mean to replicate a 1751 performance of Messiah given in London, in which Handel employed trebles rather than adults on the soprano arias”.
To my Christian friends: May we rise with Christ to eternal life. To those who don’t share our faith, or any faith: may the blessings of this season still be yours, in whatever way you are willing and able to receive them.
Peter
Happy Easter to you and yours.
Christ is risen, Alleluia!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing ye heav’ns, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! Our sun’s eclipse is o’er, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ has burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious king, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now, where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross—the grave—the skies, Alleluia!
What tho’ once we perished all, Alleluia!
Partners in our parents’ fall, Alleluia!
Second life we all receive, Alleluia!
In our heav’nly Adam live, Alleluia!
Ris’n with Him, we upward move, Alleluia!
Still we seek the things above, Alleluia!
Still pursue, and kiss the Son, Alleluia!
Seated on His Father’s throne, Alleluia!
Scarce on earth a thought bestow, Alleluia!
Dead to all we leave below, Alleluia!
Heav’n our aim, and loved abode, Alleluia!
Hid our life with Christ in God, Alleluia!
Hid 'til Christ our life appear, Alleluia!
Glorious in His members here, Alleluia!
Joined to Him, we then shall shine, Alleluia!
All immortal, all divine, Alleluia!
Hail the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the resurrection Thou, Alleluia!
King of Glory, Soul of Bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
Charles Wesley, with Alleluias.
Happy Easter!
A nice reminder that Handel wrote this for Holy Week, not Christmas.