George Frideric Handel Samson

Samson, HWV 57 is a work of the English and German composer George Frideric Handel. Free download sheet music and score "Samson" as pdf file use the link on this page.

Instrumentation	Cast Samson (tenor) Dalila, Wife of Samson (soprano) Micah, Friend to Samson (alto) Manoah, Father to Samson (bass) Harapha, a Giant (bass) Philistine Woman, attendant to Dalila (soprano) Israelitish Woman (soprano) Philistine (tenor) Israelitish Man (tenor) Messenger (tenor) Mixed Chorus Chorus of Israelites Chorus of Philistines Chorus of Virgins Orchestra 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings, continuo
Language	English
Key	G major
Movements	3 acts
Sections	Act I. Scene 1 1. Overture 2. Recitative (Samson): This day, a solemn feast to Dagon held 3. Chorus of Philistines: Awake the trumpet's lofty sound! 4. Air (Philistine Woman): Ye men of Gaza, hither bring Chorus: Awake the trumpet's lofty sound! 5. Air (Philistine): Loud as the thunder's awful voice 6. Air (Philistine Woman): Then free from sorrow, free from thrall Chorus: Awake the trumpet's lofty sound! 7. Recitative (Samson): Why by an angel was my birth foretold 8. Air (Samson): Torments, alas, are not confin'd Scene 2 9. Recitative (Micah): Oh, change beyond report, thought, or belief! 10. Air (Micah): Oh, mirror of our fickle state! 11. Recitative (Samson, Micah) Samson. Whom have I to complain of but myself Micah. Matchless in might! once Israel’s glory Samson. Welcome, my friends! Micah. Which shall we first bewail Samson. O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! 12. Air (Samson): Total eclipse! No sun, no moon! 13. Accompagnato (Micah): Since light so necessary is to life 14. Chorus of Israelites: O first created beam! 15. Recitative (Samson, Micah, Manoah) Samson. Ye see, my friends Micah. The wisest men have err'd, and been deceiv'd Samson. Oh that I had! Alas, fond wish, too late! Micah. Here comes thy rev'rend sire, old Manoah Samson. Alas! Another grief that name awakes. Scene 3 Manoah. Brethren and men of Dan, say, where is my son? Micah. As signal now in low dejected state 16. Accompagnato (Manoah): Oh, miserable change! 17. Recitative (Israelitish Man): Oh, ever failing trust 18. Air (Israelitish Man): God of our fathers, what is man? 19. Accompagnato (Manoah): The good we wish for, often proves our bane 20. Air (Manoah): Thy glorious deeds inspir'd my tongue 21. Recitative (Samson, Manoah) Samson: Justly these evils have befalI'n thy son Manoah: Worse yet remains. Samson: This have I done 22. Accompagnato (Samson): My griefs for this 23. Air (Samson): Why does the God of lsrael sleep? 24. Recitative (Micah): There lies our hope! 25. Chorus of Israelites: Then shall they know 26. Recitative (Manoah, Samson) Manoah. For thee, my dearest son Samson. It should be so, to expiate my crime Manoah. Be for thy fate contrite Samson. Why should I live? 27. Accompagnato (Samson): My genial spirits droop 28. Recitative (Micah): Then long eternity 29. Air (Micah): Joys that are pure 30. Chorus of Israelites: Then round about the starry throne Act II. Scene 1 31. Recitative (Manoah, Samson) Manoah. Despair not thus! Samson. Where'er the liquid brook or fountain Manoah. Trust yet in God! 32. Air (Manoah): Just are the ways of God to man 33. Recitative (Samson, Micah) Samson. My evils hopeless are! Micah. Relieve Thy champion 34. Air and Chorus (Micah, Israelites) Micah. Return, O God of hosts! Behold Israelites. To dust his glory they would tread, Scene 2 35. Recitative (Samson, Micah, Dalila) Micah. But who is this, that so bedeck'd and gay Samson. My wife, my traitress? Micah. She stands, and eyes thee fix'd Dalila. With doubtful feet, and wav'ring resolution Samson. Out, thou hyæna! Dalila. I would not lessen my offence, yet beg Samson. How cunningly the sorceress displays 36. Air (Philistine Woman / Dalila): With plaintive notes 37. Recitative (Dalila, Samson) Dalila. Alas! Th'event was worse than I foresaw Samson. Did love constrain thee? No, 'twas raging lust! 38. Air (Samson): Your charms to ruin led the way 39. Recitative (Dalila): Forgive what's done 40. Air and Duet (Dalila, Philistine Woman) Dalila. My faith and truth, O Samson, prove, Philistine Woman. Her faith and truth 41a. Chorus of Virgins: Her faith and truth 42. Air (Dalila): To fleeting pleasures 41b. Chorus of Virgins: Her faith and truth Air (Dalila): How charming is domestic ease! 41c. Chorus of Virgins: Her faith and truth 43. Recitative (Samson, Dalila) Samson. Ne'er think of that! Dalila. Let me approach, at least Samson. Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake Dalila. Thou art more deaf to pray'rs 44. Duet (Dalila, Samson): Traitor to love! I'll sue no more Scene 3 45. Recitative (Micah, Samson) Micah. She's gone! Samson. So let her go! 46. Air (Micah): It is not virtue, valour, wit 47. Recitative (Samson): Favour'd of heaven is he 48. Chorus of Israelites: To man God's universal law Scene 4 49. Recitative (Micah, Harapha, Samson) Micah. No words of peace Harapha. I come not, Samson, to condole thy chance Samson. The way to know. were not to see Harapha. Ha! Dost thou then already single me? Samson. Boast not of what thou would'st have done Harapha. The honour certain to have won from thee 50. Air (Harapha): Honour and arms 51. Recitative (Samson): Put on your arms 52. Air (Samson): My strength is from the living God 53. Recitative (Harapha, Samson) Harapha.With thee, a man condemn'd Samson. Cam'st thou for this, vain boaster? Harapha. O Dagon! Can I hear this insolence 54. Duet (Samson, Harapha): Go, baffled coward; Presume not on thy God 55. Recitative (Micah): Here lies the proof 56. Chorus of Israelites: Hear, Jacob's God, Jehovah, hear! 57. Recitative (Harapha): Dagon, arise, attend thy sacred feast! 58. Air (A Philistine): To song and dance we give the day 59. Chorus of Philistines: To song and dance we give the day 60. Chorus of Israelites and Philistines: Fix'd in his everlasting seat Act III. Scene 1 61. Recitative (Micah, Samson, Harapha) Micah. More trouble is behind Samson. I fear him not, nor all his giant brood Harapha. Samson, to thee our lords thus bid me say Samson. I am an Hebrew Harapha. This answer will offend Samson. Myself, my conscience and intemal peace! Harapha. My message, giv'n with speed 62. Air (Harapha): Presuming slave, to move their wrath! 63. Recitative (Micah, Samson) Micah. Reflect then. Samson Samson. Shall I abuse this consecrated gift Micah. How thou wilt here come 64. Chorus of Israelites: With thunder arm'd, great God, arise! 65. Recitative (Samson, Micah, Harapha) Samson. Be of good courage Micah. In time thou hast resolv'd Harapha. Samson, this second summons send our lords Samson. Vain were their art if tried Harapha. You thus may win the lords Samson. In nothing I'll comply that's scandalous Micah. So may'st thou act as serves His glory best Samson. Let but that spirit 66. Accompagnato (Samson): Then shall I make Jehovah's glory 67. Air (Samson): Thus when the sun from's wat'ry bed 68. Accompagnato (Micah): With might endu'd above the sons of men 69. Air and Chorus (Micah): The Holy One of Israel be thy guide Scene 2 70. Recitative (Micah, Manoah) Micah. Old Manoah, with youthful steps Manoah. I come, my brethren 71. Air (Philistine): Great Dagon has subdu'd our foe 72. Chorus of Philistines: Great Dagon has subdu'd our foe 73. Recitative (Manoah, Micah) Manoah. What noise of joy was that? Micah. They shout and sing Manoah. Could my inheritance but ransom him Micah. Sons care to nurse 74. Air (Manoah): How willing my paternal love 75. Recitative (Micah, Manoah) Micah. Your hopes of his deliv'ry seem not vain Manoah. I know your friendly minds 76. Chorus of Philistines: Hear us, our God! Oh, hear our cry! 77. Recitative (Micah, Manoah) Micah. Noise call you this? Manoah. Ruin indeed! Micah. Thy son is rather slaying them Scene 3 78. Recitative (Messenger, Micah, Manoah) Messenger. Where shall I run Micah. The accident was loud Messenger. Let me recover breath Manoah. Tell us the sum (etc.) 79. Air and Chorus (Micah, Israelites): Ye sons of lsrael, now lament, 80. Recitative (Manoah): Proceed we hence to find his body 81. Symphony: Dead March 82. Recitative (Micah, Manoah) Micah. The body comes Manoah. There shall all IsraeI's valiant youth resort 83. Air and Chorus (Manoah, Israelites): Glorious hero, may thy grave 84. Solo and Chorus (Israelite Woman, Virgins) Israelite Woman. The virgins too shall on their feastful days Virgins. Bring the laurels, bring the bays, 85. Recitative (Manoah, Micah) Manoah. Come, come! No time for lamentation now Micah. Why should we weep or wail 86. Air (Israelite Woman): Let the bright seraphim 87. Chorus of Israelites: Let their celestial concerts all unite
Piece Style	Baroque
Composer Time Period	Baroque, Classical
Opus (Catalogue Number)	HWV 57
Year of Creation	1741
Year of First Publication	1743

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