Large Works

Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, and Haydn's Creation are considered three of greatest sacred oratorios ever composed. An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, choir, and soloists which tells a story. The three recordings on this site of these works are each conducted by the "Dean of American choral conductors" Robert Shaw and performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. They are highly regarded recordings of these great works.

Also featured here is the large a cappella composition by the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff called Vespers. This Grammy award winning recording is also conducted by Robert Shaw and sung by the Robert Shaw Festival Singers.

Tracks
Disc I
Part One
1. Sinfonia
2. Comfort ye, my people
3. And the glory of the Lord
4. Thus saith the Lord
5. Behold, a virgin shall conceive
6. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
7. For unto us a Child is born
8. Pifa - "Pastoral Symphony"
9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion
10. Then shall the eyes of the blind
11. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd
12. His yoke is easy

Part Two
13. Behold the lamb of God
14. He was despised
15. Surely he hath borne our griefs

Disc II
1. And with His stripes we are healed
2. All they that see him
3. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart
4. Lift up your heads
5. Unto which of the angels
6. Thou art gone up on high
7. The Lord gave the word
8. How beautiful are the feet
9. Their sound is gone out
10. Why do the nations?
11. He that dwelleth in heaven
12. Hallelujah

Part Three
13. I know that my Redeemer liveth
14. Since by man came death
15. Behold, I tell you a mystery
16. Then shall be brought to pass
17. If God be for us
18. Worthy is the lamb...Amen

Mendelssohn's Elijah
(sung in English)

2 CD's - Total Playing Time [132:24]

Tracks
Disk one
1. Introduction (Elijah) - "As God the Lord of Israel liveth"    Listen
2. Overture
3. Chorus - "Help Lord!"
4. Quartet: Recitative - "The deep affords no water"
5. Duet with chorus - "Zion spreadeth her hands for aid"
6. Recitative (Obadiah) - "Ye people, rend your hearts"
7. Air (Obadiah) - "If with all your hearts"
8. Chorus - "Yet doth the Lord see it not"    Listen
9. Recitative (Angel) - "Elijah! Get thee hence"
10. Double Quartet - "For He shall give His angels"    Listen
11. Recitative (Angel) - "Now Cherith's brook is dried up"
12. Air (Widow) - "What have I to do with thee" - and Recitative (Elijah, Widow) - "Give me thy son!"
13. Chorus - "Blessed are all they that fear Him"    Listen
14. Recitative (Elijah, Ahab) with Chorus - "As God the Lord of Sabaoth liveth" 15. Chorus - "Baal, answer us"
16. Recitative (Elijah) and Chorus - "Call him louder, for he is a god!"
17. Recitative (Elijah) and Chorus - "Call him louder! He heareth not"
18. Air (Elijah) - "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel"
19. Quartet (Angels) - "Cast thy burden upon the Lord"
20. Recitative (Elijah) and Chorus - "O Thou, who makest thine angels spirits"
21. Air (Elijah) - "Is not His word like a fore?"
22. Air - "Woe unto them who forsake Him!"
23. Recitative (Obadiah, Elijah, Youth) and Chorus - "O man of God, help thy people!"
24. Chorus - "Thanks be to God!"    Listen

Disk two
1. Air - "Hear ye, Israel!"
2. Chorus - "Be not afraid"    Listen
3. Recitative (Elijah, Queen) and Chorus - "The Lord hath exalted thee"
4. Chorus - "Woe to him!"
5. Recitative (Obadiah, Elijah) - "Man of God, now let my words be precious"
6. Air (Elijah) - "It is enough, O Lord"
7. Recitative - "See, now he sleepeth"
8. Trio of Angels - "Lift thine eyes"    Listen
9. Chorus - "He, watching over Israel"    Listen
10. Recitative (Angel, Elijah) - "Arise, Elijah"
11. Air (Angel) - "O rest in the Lord"
12. Chorus - "He that shall endure to the end"
13. Recitative(Elijah, Angel) - "Night falleth 'round me"
14. Chorus - "Behold, God the Lord passed by!"    Listen
15. Recitative, Quartet and Chorus - "Above him stood the seraphim"
16. Chorus - "Go, return upon thy way" - and Recitative (Elijah) - "I go on my way"
17. Arioso (Elijah) - "For the mountains shall depart"
18. Chorus - "Thus did Elijah the prophet break forth"
19. Air - "Then shall the righteous shine forth"
20. Recitative - "For God sent his people the prophet Elijah"
21. Chorus - "Thus saith the Lord"
22. Quartet - "O come, everyone that thirsteth"
23. Chorus - "And then shall your light break forth"    Listen

Haydn's Creation
(sung in English)

2 CD's - Total Playing Time [106:58]

Tracks
Disk one
Part I
1. Introduction
2. Recitative (Raphael): In the beginning / Chorus: In the spirit / Recitative (Uriel): And God saw the light    Listen
3. Aria with chorus (Uriel): Now vanished by the holy beams
4. Recitative (Raphael): And God made the firmament
5. Chorus with Solo (Gabriel): What wonder doth his work reveal    Listen
6. Recitative (Raphael): And God said: Let the waters
7. Aria
8. Recitative (Gabriel): And God said: Let all the earth bring forth grass
9. Aria (Gabriel): Now robed in cool refreshing green
10. Recitative (Uriel): And the heavenly host
11. Chorus: Awake the harp    Listen
12. Recitative (Uriel): And God said: Let there be lights
13. Recitative (Uriel): In shining splendor    Listen
14. Chorus with Trio: (Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael): The heavens are telling    Listen

Part II
15. Recitative (Gabriel): And God said: Let the waters bring forth
16. Aria (Gabriel): On mighty wings
17. Recitative (Raphael): And God created whales
18. Recitative (Raphael): And the angels struck
19. Trio (Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael): In fairest raiment / Chorus with Trio: The Lord is great    Listen

Disk 2
1. Recitative (Raphael): And God said: Let earth bring forth
2. Recitative (Raphael): Straight opening her fertile womb
3. Aria (Raphael): Now shines the brightest glory
4. Recitative (Uriel): And God created Man
5. Aria (Uriel): In native worth
6. Recitative (Raphael): And God saw everything
7. Chorus: Fulfilled at last the glorious work / Trio (Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael): From thee, O Lord! / Chorus: Fulfilled at last the glorious work    Listen

Part III
8. Recitative (Uriel): In rosy mantle
9. Hymn (Eve, Adam, Chorus): By thee with grace
10. Recitative (Eve, Adam): Now is our duty
11. Duet (Eve, Adam): Sweet companion!
12. Recitative (Uriel): O happy pair
13. Chorus with Soloists: Sing to God    Listen

Rachmaninoff's Vespers
(sung in Russian)
$16.95

Tracks
1. Priidite, Poklonimsya - Come, Let Us Worship    Listen
2. Blagoslovi, Dushe Moya - Bless The Lord, O My Soul    Listen
3. Blazhen Muzh - Blessed Be The Man    Listen
4. Svete Tikhyi - O Serene Light    Listen
5. Nyne Otpushchayeshi - Now Let Thy Servant Depart    Listen
6. Bogoroditsye Devo, Raduisya - Rejoice, O Virgin    Listen
7. Slava V Vyshnikh Bogu - Glory To God in the Highest
8. Khvalite Imya Gospodne - Praise the Name of the Lord
9. Blagosloven Yesi, Gospodi - Blessed Art Thou, O Lord
10. Voskreseniye Khristovo Videvshe - Having Seen the Resurrection of the Lord
11. Velichit Dusha Moya Gospoda - My Soul Magnifies the Lord
12. Slava V Vyshnikh Bogu - Glory to God in the Highest
13. Dnes Spaseniye Miru Byst - Troparia of the Day of Salvation
14. Voskres Iz Groba - Christ is Risen from the Grave - Troparia of the Resurrection
15. Vzbrannoy Voyevode - Thanksgiving to the Mother of God