36. Why do the nations so furiously rage together

From Messiah, HWV 56, Part II, Scene 6: The World’s Rejection of the Gospel

Composer	George Frideric Handel
Key	C major
Meter	4/4
Tempo	Allegro
Structure	attacca il coro
Length	96 measures

English text
Why do the nations so furiously rage together: 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 His annointed.
Opera Stanford

About the text

• Author: Charles Jennens
• Text references: Psalm 2:1-2:2 (paraphrased)

Instrumentation

Notes

Resources

• Full score: Hallische Händel-Ausgabe I/17, p. 178, p. 178
• Bärenreiter piano–vocal score ›
• Opera Stanford ›
• Scores at IMSLP ›
• Wikipedia ›

Similar instrumentation

• Recitative: Wohl aber dem, der seinen Bürgen weiß
  JS Bach
• Aria: Fra l’ombre e gli orrori
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• Aria: Di cieca notte
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Similar texts

• Chorus: Die Könige im Lande lehnen sich auf
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• Accompagnato: Why do the gentiles tumult?
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• Chorus: Warum versammlen sich
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