Israel in Egypt, HWV 54 (George Frideric Handel)

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1.

  • (Posted 2005-09-15)  CPDL #09559:    (MIDI)Score information: A4, 36 pages, 1.31 MB   

2.

  • (Posted 2005-09-15)  CPDL #09586:    (MIDI)Score information: A4, 40 pages, 1.59 MB   

3.

  • (Posted 2005-09-15)  CPDL #09587:    (MIDI)Score information: A4, 40 pages, 1.61 MB   

4

  • (Posted 2005-09-15)  CPDL #09588:    (MIDI)Score information: A4, 36 pages, 1.39 MB   
Editor: Michael Gibson (submitted 2005-09-15).   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Includes a piano version of the orchestral accompaniment. In 4 separate sections (large files), midi files zipped. This edition lays no claim to 'authenticity'. Indeed, with all the major revisions made by Handel during his lifetime, it would be difficult to decide on a definitive version of this work. The version presented here is based on the edition produced by Mendelssohn in the 1840s, which became a great favourite of Choral Societies in England (surpassing even the Messiah) from then until the middle of the 20th Century.

General Information

Title: Israel in Egypt, HWV 54
Composer: George Frideric Handel

Number of voices: 4–8vv   Voicing: SATB, SATB.SATB
Genre: SacredOratorio

Language: English
Instruments: Orchestra

First published: written 1738 (see Additional Notes below)
Description: An oratorio on the grand scale with the chorus (often in 8 parts) being more prominent than in many other oratorios.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Part I, Exodus
1. Recitative (tenor)
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph;
and he set over Israel taskmasters to afflict them with burdens,
and they made them serve with rigour.

2. Alto Solo and Double Chorus
And the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage,
and their cry came unto God.
They oppressed them with burthens,
and made them serve with rigour;
and their cry came up unto God.

3. Recitative (tenor)
Then sent he Moses, His servant, and Aaron,
whom he had chosen; these shew’d his signs
among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
He turned their waters into blood:

4. Chorus
They loathed to drink of the river;
He turned their waters into blood.

5. Alto solo
Their land brought forth frogs, yea even in their king's chambers.
He gave their cattle over to the pestilence;
blotches and blains broke forth on man and beast.

6. Double chorus
He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies and lice in all their quarters.
He spake, and the locusts came without number,
and devoured the fruits of the ground.

7. Double chorus
He gave them hailstones for rain;
fire mingled with the hail ran along upon the ground.

8. Chorus
He sent a thick darkness over all the land,
even darkness which might be felt.

9. Chorus
He smote all the first-born of Egypt,
the chief of all their strength.

10. Chorus
But as for his people, he led them forth like sheep:
He brought them out with silver and gold;
there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

11. Chorus
Egypt was glad when they departed,
for the fear of them fell upon them.

12. Double chorus
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up.

13. Double chorus
He led them through the deep as through a wilderness.

14. Double chorus
But the waters overwhelmed their enemies,
there was not one of them left.

15. Double chorus
And Israel saw that great work that the Lord did upon the Egyptians;
and the people feared the Lord.

16. Chorus
And believed the Lord and his servant Moses;
and the people feared the Lord…

Part II, Moses’ Song
17. Chorus
Moses and the children of Israel sung this song
unto the Lord, and spake, saying:

18. Chorus
I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.

19. Duet (SS)
The Lord is my strength and my song; he is become my salvation.

20. Chorus
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God.

21. Chorus
And I will exalt him. He is my father's God. I will exalt him.

22. Duet (BB)
The Lord is a man of war.
Lord is his name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea.
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.

23. Double chorus
The depths have covered them; they sank into the bottom as a stone.

24. Double chorus
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power.
Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

25. Double chorus
And in the greatness of thine excellency,
thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee.

26. Double chorus
Thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

27. Chorus
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together,
the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

28. Tenor solo
The enemy said: “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand
shall destroy them».

29. Soprano solo
Thou didst blow with the wind, the sea covered them;
they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

30. Double chorus
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou stretchest out thy right hand:

31. Double chorus
The earth swallowed them.

32. Alto & tenor solo
Thou, in thy mercy hast led forth thy people, which thou hast redeemed;
Thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

33. Double chorus
The people shall hear, and be afraid:
sorrow shall take hold on them.
All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away,
by the greatness of thy arm.
They shall be as still as a stone, till thy people pass over, O Lord,
thy people which thou hast purchased.

34. Alto solo
Thou shall bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance,
in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in,
in the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.

35. Double chorus
The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

36. Recitative (tenor)
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea,
and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them;
but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

37. Double chorus
The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

38. Recitative (tenor)
And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron,
took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out,
after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them:

39. Soprano solo & double chorus
Sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously.
The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.