Oratorio Isaiah's Prophecy is composed by Paul Creston (October 10, 1906 – August 24, 1985.) Creston's name was originally Giuseppe Guttoveggio. The oratorio was written in 1962 and based in the Bible's Book of Isaiah.
The original language of the oratorio is in English. First performance was on December 12, 1962, at the University of Florida, Tampa. In form, there are no large divisions but a succession of 16 title numbers.
The Cast of Isaiah's Prophecy Oratorio
There are six soloists
- The Prophet, announces the news of the Messiah's coming (baritone)
- Mary, Virgin mother of the Christ Child (mezzo-soprano)
- The Evangelist, narrates the Annunciation story based from the Bible (tenor)
- The Magi, also called the Three Kings - Caspar (tenor), Melchior (baritone), and Balthazar (bass)
The Prophet Prophesies the Christ Child's Coming
The opening chorus invites the whole world to hear the Christmas story. The Evangelist sings in a recitative a beloved prophetic passage from the book of Isaiah, "and there shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse…." This foretells of the Messiah's arrival from the lineage of Jesse. To complement these words, the chorus adds an Advent popular hymn, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." The second verse "O Come Thou Rod of Jesse" reinforces the recitative.
The Annunciation of Christ's Birth
The Evangelist tells the annunciation story through scriptures, taken from the apostle Luke's gospel, "And the Angel Gabriel was sent from God." After a brief recitative, the Evangelist continues the story as a spoken narration over an expressive orchestral interlude.
Mary's Magnificat
Mary responds with the complete Magnificat, "My soul doth magnify the Lord," as an aria with warmth and graceful lines over a flowing accompaniment.
Shepherds Receives the News and Visits the Child
The Evangelist sings a gentle accompanied recitative to the well-known Nativity account from the Gospel of Luke, "And it came to pass in those days…" The prophecy is fulfilled and the shepherds wait for God's revelation to them. This scene is narrated by the chorus through the hymn "While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night." The mood is pastoral.
The Evangelist continues the report. "And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." The scene is set at the manger. A lullaby is being called to the Holy Child, and a soprano solo carries the text of "Sleep, Holy Babe."
Arrival and Worship of the Magi
The scene shifts to the arrival of the Three Magi. A brief passage from the Gospel of Matthew announces their arrival at the manger. The scene of Adoration is enacted by the Wise Men, using five verses from the Epiphany carol, "We Three Kings of Orient Are." Verse one is sung by the Magi as a trio with the chorus responding a refrain.
Alleluia Chorus, Praise of the Nativity
The last line of the carol "Alleluia, Alleluia, earth to heaven replies" flows without interruption into the closing choral "Alleluia." The summation is reached and "all alleluias" unite in praise of the Christ Child.
Source:
Pahlen, Kurt. The World of the Oratorio, with Translations and Dox additions. Oregon: Amadeus Press, 1990
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