Surviving concert programmes (or word books as they were known) from eighteenth century performances show us that the text was given to the audience to read as they listened, and was divided into sixteen ‘scenes’ within the three main parts, which take us through this meditation in a logical sequence, labelled (presumably by Jennens) as follows:
PART 1 |
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The prophecy and realisation of God’s plan to redeem mankind by the coming of the Messiah. |
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NO. |
TITLE OF MOVEMENT |
SCENE DESCRIPTOR |
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1 |
Overture |
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SCENE 1 |
2 |
Comfort ye my people |
Isaiah’s prophecy of salvation |
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3 |
Every valley shall be exalted |
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4 |
And the glory of the Lord |
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SCENE 2 |
5 |
Thus saith the Lord |
The prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, and the question of what this might portend for the world |
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6 |
But who may abide the day of His coming |
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7 |
And He shall purify |
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SCENE 3 |
8 |
Behold a virgin shall conceive |
The prophecy of the virgin birth |
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9 |
O Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion |
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10 |
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth |
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11 |
The people that walked in darkness |
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12 |
For unto us a child is born |
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SCENE 4 |
13 |
Pifa (Pastoral Sinfonia - instrumental) |
The appearance of the angels to the shepherds |
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14a |
And there were shepherds abiding in the field |
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14b |
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them |
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15 |
And the angel said unto them |
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16 |
And suddenly there was with the angel |
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17 |
Glory to God |
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SCENE 5 |
18 |
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion |
Christ’s redemptive miracles on earth |
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19 |
Then shall the eyes of the blind |
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20 |
He shall feed His flock |
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21 |
His yoke is easy and His burthen is light |
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