作品簡介
亨德爾的清唱劇創作遠從1708年即開始，一生約有兩打作品，除了兩首以義大利文寫作之外，其他都以英文的腳本為依據。取材大多出自聖經。如：以斯帖、底波拉、掃羅王、以色列人在埃及、約書亞、參孫、所羅門王、耶弗他、猶大馬加比亞斯等，最後一首是譬喻式的 (Allegorical)”時間與真理的勝利”（The Triumph of Time and Truth）(1757年)。
至於”彌賽亞”卻是獨樹一格的作品，是一首包含了舊約及新約，注重靈修、思考有關救主”彌賽亞”的作品，寫的是關於基督的誕生，受難，復活，但沒有故事情節，用一種間接，象徵性的方式敘述。其詠嘆調豐富而獨創，旋律常加上非常動聽的華飾和拖腔，以加強情感的抒發；合唱簡樸深厚，常讓復調與主調織體交替出現，和聲堅實有力。這部清唱劇的全部曲譜是在一個月內完成的，這實在是神速。
亨德爾的”彌賽亞”可說是全世界被演唱最多的清唱劇（包括以英文及其他許多語言，當然英文唱的最多），也是基督徒耳熟能詳的聖樂；其中之”Alleluia”大合唱，更是許多大大小小的合唱團、聖歌隊唱過或試著去唱，許多人都能”倒背如流”的曲子。而演出的人數，首演時有18人詩班（6位男童女高音，12位男性演唱者中有4位唱女低音、4位男高音、 4位男低音），共使用了33件樂器──12支小提琴、 4支中提琴、 3支大提琴、2支低音大提琴、4支雙簧管、4支巴松管、2支小喇叭、1組定音鼓、1架管風琴。這是1742年4月13日在愛爾蘭首都都柏林首演的編制。
《彌賽亞》公演之夜，當演唱到第二幕終曲《哈里路亞大合唱》時，包廂里的英國國王肅然起立跟著合唱，於是全場隨之起立合唱。因此形成一個慣例：此後《彌賽亞》每次公演到第二幕終曲時，都是全場起立齊唱《哈里路亞大合唱》。
莫扎特在1789年重編的樂譜，使後來演出的人數大增，同年在倫敦就有275 位人聲及248件樂器的記錄。而1859年在倫敦的亨德爾100年逝世紀念會時，合唱團高達 2765人、樂器460件。1869年在美國波士頓“和平日節慶”演出時，更曾有過一萬人大合唱”Alleluia”、500件樂器伴奏的記錄。在台灣YMCA的Oratorio Chorus每年連續不斷地於12月間推出，今年將是第50周年的演出，”彌賽亞”受歡迎的程度於此可見一斑。此外甚至有所謂的”彌賽亞大合唱節慶”，就如在美國普林斯頓的西敏寺音樂學院，常常邀請普林斯頓附近的居民，自備樂譜參加大合唱，英國的倫敦也常有此盛況，人數有時多達2000人。
當然，世上有許多貧窮的人，也因著”彌賽亞”的演出而多少獲得些幫助，許多醫院更因而被建造或改建。世界上各個角落每年都有人因為唱”彌賽亞”而獲得心靈上的鼓舞，產生更多向上邁進的力量。許多基督徒因為聽了它而更愛主、愛人。也有不少非基督徒（特別是大專院校的合唱團員）因為參與了”彌賽亞”的演出而深受感動，決心追求真理、用音樂服事世人；福音的種子撒播在各種數不盡的，唱過、聽過”Messiah“的人心田之中，任何適當的時期，都可能發芽開花而結果。
作品詳情
第一部分
1.Sinfonia (Overture) 4:47
2.Comfort ye, my people (Tenor) 3:38
Comfort ye, comfort ye, My people, saith your God; speak
ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her
warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity ispardoned;
...The voice of him that cried in the wilderness:
Prepare ye the
way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway
for our God.
你們的上帝說：“你們要安慰，安慰我的百姓。要對耶路撒冷說
安慰的話，又向她宣告說：她爭戰的日子已滿了，她的
罪孽赦免了,...在曠野有人聲喊著說：當預備耶和華的路，在沙
漠地修平我們上帝的道。
Isaiah 40:1-3
3.Every valley shall be exhalted (Tenor) 3:32
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and
hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places
plain.
一切山窪都要填滿，大小山岡都要削平，高高低低的要改為平坦
，崎崎嶇嶇的必成為平原。
saiah 40:4
4.And the glory of the Lord (Chorus) 3:36
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all
flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord
hath spoken
it.
耶和華的榮耀必然顯現，凡有血氣的，必一同看見，因為這是耶
和華親口說的。
Isaiah 40:5
5.Thus saith the Lord (Bass) 1:52
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet once a little while
and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and
the dry
land; and I will shake all nations;and the desire of all
nations shall come.
萬軍之耶和華如此說：“過不多時，我必再一次震動天地、滄海
與旱地。我必震動萬國；萬國的珍寶，必都運來。”
Haggai 2:6-7
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his
temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye
delight
in; behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
萬軍之耶和華說：“你們所尋求的主，必忽然進入他的殿；立約
的使者，就是你們所仰慕的，快要來到。”
Malachi 3:1
6.But who may abide (Bass) 5:01
But who may abide the day of his coming and who shall
stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's
fire.
他來的日子，誰能當得起呢？他顯現的時候，誰能立得住呢？因
為他如鍊金之人的火。
Malachi 3:2
7.And He shall purify (Chorus) 3:11
And He shall purify the sons of Levy, that they may
offer unto the Lord an offering of righteousness.
他必潔淨利未人，他們就憑公義獻供物給耶和華。
Malachi 3:3
8.Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Contralto) 0:43
Behold! A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and
shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.
必有童女懷孕生子，給他起名叫以馬內利，上帝與我們同在。
Isaiah 7:14(cf Matthew 1:23)
9.O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Chorus) 7:22
O thou that tellest good tidings of Zion, get thee up
into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings
to
Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength;
lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah,
Behold your God! Isaiah 40:9
報好信息給錫安的啊，你要登高山，報好信息給耶路撒冷的啊，
你要極力揚聲。揚聲不要懼怕，對猶大的城邑說：“看
哪，你們的上帝。”
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of
the Lord is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1
興起！發光！因為你的光已經來到，耶和華的榮耀發現照耀你。
10.For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (Bass)
2:59
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross
darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee;
and
His glory shall be seen upon thee, and the Gentiles
shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of
thy rising.
Isaiah 60:2-3
看哪！黑暗遮蓋大地，幽暗遮蓋萬民，耶和華卻要顯現照耀你，
他的榮耀要現在你身上。萬國要來就你的光，君王要來
就你發現的光輝。
11.The people that walked in darkness (Bass) 4:51
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great
light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of
death,
upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah 9:2
在黑暗中行走的百姓看見了大光；住在死蔭之地的人有光照耀他
們。
12.For unto us a child is born (Chorus) 4:49
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and
the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God,
the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
因有一嬰孩為我們而生，有一子賜給我們，政權必擔在他的肩頭
上。他名稱為奇妙、策士、全能的上帝、永在的父、和
平的君。
13.Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) 4:37
14.There were shepherds (Soprano) 0:59
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch
over their flocks by night, And lo! the angel of the
Lord
came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them, and they were sore afraid.
野地里有牧羊的人，夜間按著更次看守羊群。看哪！有主的使者
站在他們旁邊，主的榮光四面照著他們。牧羊的人就甚
懼怕。
Luke 2:8-9
15.And the angel said unto them (Soprano) 0:53
And the Angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people;
for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
那天使對他們說：“不要懼怕，我報給你們大喜的信息，是關乎
萬民的，因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是
主基督。”
Luke 2:10-11
16.And suddenly there was with the angel (Soprano) 0:21
And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the
heavenly host, praising God and saying: ...
忽然，有一大隊天兵同那天使讚美上帝說： Luke 2:13
17.Glory to God in the highest (Chorus) 2:17
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth,
goodwill towards men.
在至高之處榮耀歸於上帝，在地上平安歸於他所喜悅的人。
Luke 2:14
18.Rejoice greatly oh daughters of Zion (Soprano) 4:32
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter
of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee! He is
the
righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the
heathen.
錫安的民哪，應當大大喜樂；耶路撒冷的民哪，應當歡呼。看哪
，你的王來到你這裡。他是公義的，並且實行拯救。他
必向列國講和平。
Zechariah 9:9-10
19.Then shall the eyes of the blind (Contralto) 0:31
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears
of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame leap as a hart, and the tongue of
the dumb shall sing.
那時瞎子的眼必睜開，聾子的耳必開通。那時瘸子必跳躍象鹿，
啞巴的舌頭必能歌唱。 Isaiah 35:5-6
20.He shall feed His flock (Contralto & Soprano) 6:12
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, and He shall
gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his
bosom, and
gently lead those that are with young.
他必象牧人牧羊自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在懷中，慢慢引
導那乳養小羊的。 Isaiah 40:11
Come unto him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and He will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and
learn
of him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall
find rest unto your souls.
凡勞苦擔重擔的人，可以到他這裡來，他就使你們得安息。你們
當負他的軛，學他的樣式，這樣，你們心裡就必得享安
息。
Matthew 11:28-29
21.His yoke is easy (Chorus) 3:03
His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light.
因為他的軛是容易的，他的擔子是輕省的。
Matthew 11:30
第二部分
22. Behold the Lamb of God (Chorus) 4:08
Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the
world.
看哪！上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。
John 1:29
23.He was despised (Contralto) 6:02
He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief.
他被藐視，被人厭棄，多受痛苦，常經憂患。
Isaiah 53:3
24.Surely, He hath borne our griefs (Chorus) 2:59
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions; He was
bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our
peace was upon Him.
他誠然擔當我們的憂患，背負我們的痛苦。他為我們的過犯受害
，為我們的罪孽壓傷。因他受的刑法我們得平安。
Isaiah 53:4-5
25.And with His stripes (Chorus) 2:21
And with His stripes we are healed.
因他受的鞭傷我們得醫治。
Isaiah 53:5
26.All we like sheep have gone astray (Chorus) 4:02
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every
one to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all.
我們都如羊走迷，各人偏行己路，耶和華使我們的罪孽都歸在他
身上。
Isaiah 53:6
27.All they that see Him (Tenor) 0:53
All they that see him, laugh Him to scorn; they shoot
out their lips, and shake their heads saying:...
凡看見他的都嗤笑他。他們撇嘴搖頭，說：
Psalm 22:7
28.He trusted in God (Chorus) 2:24
...He trusted in God that He would deliver him; let Him
deliver him, if He delight in him.
他把自己交託耶和華，耶和華可以救他吧！耶和華既喜悅他，可
以搭救他吧！
Psalm 22:8 (cf Matthew 27:43)
29.Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (Tenor) 2:39
Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of
heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but
there was no man, neither found He any to comfort Him.
辱罵傷破了他的心，他又滿了憂愁；他指望有人體恤，卻沒有一
個；他指望有人安慰，卻找不著一個。
Psalm 69:20
30.Behold and see if there be any (Tenor) 2:03
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His
sorrow.
你們要觀看，又象這臨到他的痛苦沒有？
Lamentations 1:12
31.He was cut off (Tenor) 0:26
He was cut off from the land of the living; for the
trangressions of Thy people was He stricken.
他從活人之地被剪除，是因我百姓的罪過。
Isaiah 53:8
32.But thou didst not leave (Tenor) 3:22
But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst
Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
他的靈魂不撇在陰間，他的肉身也不見朽壞。
Acts 2:31
33.Lift up your heads (Chorus) 3:13
Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.
Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye
gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the
King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory?
The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
眾城門哪，你們要抬起頭來！永久的門戶，你們要被舉起！那榮
耀的王將要進來。榮耀的王是誰呢？就是又能有力的耶和華，在
戰場上有能的耶和華。眾城門哪，你們要抬起頭來！永久的門戶
，你們要把頭抬起！那榮耀的王將要進來。榮耀的王是誰呢？萬
軍之耶和華，他是榮耀的王。
Psalm 24:7-10
34.Unto which of the angels (Tenor) 0:26
Unto which of the Angels said He at any time, Thou art
My son, this day have I begotten thee?
所有的天使，上帝從來對哪一個說：你是我的兒子，我今日生你
Hebrews 1:5
35.Let all the angels of God (Chorus) 1:37
Let all the angels of God worship Him.
上帝的使者都要拜他。 Hebrews 1:6
36.Thou art gone up on high (Bass) 3:59
Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity
captive, and received gifts for men, yea, even from
thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
你已經升上高天，擄掠仇敵；你在人間，就是在悖逆的人間，受
了供獻，叫耶和華上帝可以與他們同住。
Psalm 68:18 (cf Ephesians 4:8)
37.The Lord gave the word (Chorus) 1:12
The Lord gave the word, great was the company of the
preachers.
主發命令，傳好信息的婦女成了大群。
Psalm 68:11
38.How beautiful are the feet (Soprano) 3:05
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
報福音，傳喜信的人，他們的腳蹤何等佳美。
Romans 10:15
39.Their sound is gone out into all lands (Chorus) 1:43
Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words
unto the ends of the world.
他們的聲音傳遍天下，他們的言語傳到地極。
Romans 10:18
40.Why do the nations so furious rage (Bass) 2:53
Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why
do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the
earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together
against the Lord, and against His Annointed.
外邦為什麼爭鬧？萬民為什麼謀算虛妄的事？世上的君王一齊起
來，臣宰一同商議，要敵擋耶和華並他的受膏者。
Psalm 2:1-2
41.Let us break their bonds asunder (Chorus) 1:49
Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their
yokes from us.
我們要掙開他們的捆綁，脫去他們的繩索。 Psalm 2:3
42.He that dwelleth in Heaven (Tenor) 0:22
He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn;
the Lord shall have them in derision.
那坐在天上的必發笑，主必嗤笑他們。 Psalm 2:4
43.Thou shalt break them (Tenor) 2:10
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt
dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
你必用鐵杖打破他們，你必將他們如同窯匠的瓦器摔碎。
Psalm 2:9
44.Hallelujah (Chorus) 3:32
Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
(Revelation 19:6b) The Kingdoms of this world are become
the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall
reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15b)
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16b)
哈利路亞！因為主我們的上帝，全能者作王了。世上的國成了我
主和主基督的國；他要作王，直到永永遠遠。萬王之王，萬主之
主。
第三部分
45.I know that my Redeemer liveth (Soprano) 7:43
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand
at the latter day upon the earth; and though worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
我知道我的救贖主活著，末了必站立在地上。我這皮肉滅絕之後
，我必在肉體之外得見上帝。
Job 19:25-26
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits
of them that sleep.
基督已經從死里復活，成為睡了之人初熟的果子。
I Corinthians 15:20
46.Since by man came death (Chorus) 2:30
Since by man came death by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die even so
in Christ shall all be made alive.
死既是因一人而來，死人復活也是因一人而來，在亞當里眾人都
死了，照樣，在基督里眾人也都要復活。
I Corinthians 15:21-22
47.Behold, I tell you a mystery (Bass) 0:42
Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
我如今把一件奧秘的事告訴你們，我們不是都要睡覺，乃是都要改變，就在一霎時，眨眼之間，號筒末次吹響的時候。
I Corinthians 15:51-52
48.The trumpet shall sound (Bass) 4:20
The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
號筒要響，死人要復活，成為不朽壞的，我們也要改變，這必朽壞的總要變成不朽壞的，這必死的總要變成不死的。
I Corinthians 15:52-53
49.Then shall be brought to pass (Contralto) 0:21
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory!
經上所記“死被得勝吞滅”的話就應驗了。
I Corinthians 15:54
50.O death where is thy sting (Contralto & Tenor) 1:24
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
死啊，你的毒鉤在哪裡？死啊，你得勝的權勢在哪裡？死的毒鉤就是罪，罪的權勢就是律法。
I Corinthians 15:55-56
51.But thanks be to God (Chorus) 2:22
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
感謝上帝，使我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督得勝。
I Corinthians 15:57
52.If God be for us (Soprano) 5:35
If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who makes intercession for us.
上帝若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們呢？誰能控告上帝所揀選的人呢？有上帝稱他們為義了。誰能定他們的罪呢？有基督耶穌已經死了，而且從死里復活，也替我們祈求。
Romans 8:31-34
53.Worthy is the Lamb (Chorus) 7:52
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.
曾被殺的羔羊，用自己的血買了人來歸於上帝，是配得權柄、豐富、智慧、能力、尊貴、榮耀、頌讚的。頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、權勢都歸給坐寶座的和羔羊，直到永永遠遠。阿們！
Revelation 5:9, 12-14
