Скачать или смотреть Handel's own score - How dark, O Lord, are Thy decrees (Jephtha)

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George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759):
HOW DARK, O LORD, ARE THY DECREES

This chorus, in Handels own hand writing, concludes Act II of his oratorium "Jephtha" (HWV 70). It was composed in 1751, and the libretto was provided by Thomas Morell, based on the story of Jephtha in Judges (Chapter 11) and "Jephthas sive votum" ("Jephtha or the Vow") from the year 1554 by George Buchanan.

Whilst writing Jephtha, Handel was increasingly troubled by his gradual loss of sight, and this proved to be his last great oratorio. In the autograph score, at the end of the first part of this chorus (after the words "All hid from mortal sight"...) he wrote: "Biss hierher komen den 13 Febr. 1751 verhindert worden wegen relaxation des gesichts meines linken auges" ("Reached here on 13 February, 1751, unable to go on owing to weakening of the sight of my left eye"). He resumed composition 10 days later (on his 66th birthday), writing in the score: "den 23 dieses etwas besser worden wird angegangen" ("23rd of this month a little better, set to work again"). Only after further delays, the score was finally completed on 30 August.

How dark, O Lord, are Thy decrees,
All hid from mortal sight.

All our joys to sorrow turning,
And our triumphs into mourning,
As the night succeeds the day.

No certain bliss,
No solid peace,
We mortals know
On earth below.

Yet on this maxim still obey:
"Whatever is, is right."

Regent Chamber Choir (2011)
City of London Sinfonia
Conducted by Gary Cole

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