AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD

When choir members see this piece handed out at rehearsal, they know the Christmas season is truly approaching. This magnificent chorus from Handel’s Messiah is a thrilling workout for any four-part choir, demanding bright energy and precise timing from the moment the voices enter. It sets the words of the prophet Isaiah to music that feels both regal and deeply joyful.

In our parishes, this piece often rings out during Advent or at grand Christmas concerts. The way the different voice parts chase each other—proclaiming that "all flesh shall see it together"—creates a wonderful sense of a community gathering to witness something divine. Singing it requires stamina and a watchful eye on the conductor, but when the final, resounding "hath spoken it" echoes through the church, it leaves both the choir and the congregation uplifted.