Chandos Anthem No. 8, "O Come, Let Us Sing"
Soloists: soprano, tenor
Chorus: S-A-T-B
Orchestra: 2 recorders, oboe, violins 1 & 2, continuo
Program Notes by Martin Pearlman
In 1717, five years after moving to London and in the year of his famous Water Music, Handel was hired by James Brydges, the Earl of Carnarvon, as resident composer for his personal musical establishment. The earl had built a fortune through his somewhat questionable dealings as paymaster for the army in the recent War of the Spanish Succession, and with his wealth he established an extravagant household known as Cannons. Like many small courts on the continent, it had its own musical establishment. In 1719, the earl was made the first Duke of Chandos, and the anthems that Handel had written for him became known as the Chandos Anthems.
During his two years at Cannons, Handel wrote a good deal of music, including Acis and Galatea, the oratorio Esther, and his eleven Chandos Anthems. The anthem "O Come, Let Us Sing," like the other Chandos anthems, is scored for small chorus and soloists plus the somewhat limited orchestral forces of the house. For winds, there is only one oboe part, although one aria does call for two recorders, and there are no violas. It is joyous music by a youthful composer, and the slow movements are deeply felt. The text is a compilation of verses from five psalms out of the Anglican Prayer Book.
Sonata
Chorus
O come, let us sing unto the Lord, let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and show ourselves glad in him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods.
(Psalm 95, 1-3)
Tenor
O come, let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our maker; for he is the Lord our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
(Psalm 95, 6-7)
Chorus
Glory and worship are before him; power and honor are in his sanctuary.
(Psalm 96, 6)
Tenor and Chorus
Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King and that he made the world so fast it cannot be moved.
(Psalm 96, 10)
Soprano
O magnify the Lord and worship him upon his holy hill, for the Lord our God is holy.
(Psalm 99, 9)
Alto
The Lord preserveth the souls of the saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly.
(Psalm 97, 10)
Tenor
For look, as high as the heaven is in comparison of the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him.
(Psalm 103, 11)
Chorus
There is sprung up a light for the righteous and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted.
Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous!
(Psalm 97, 11-12)
Boston Baroque Performances
Chandos Anthem No. 8, “O Come, Let Us Sing”
March 8 & 9, 2013
NEC’s Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Teresa Wakim, soprano
Mark Sprinkle, tenor
Owen McIntosh, tenor
Jonas Budris, tenor