Alexander's Feast, or the Power of Music (1736)

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)  HWV 75

1. Overture
2. Recitative: 'Twas at the royal feast
3. Aria and Chorus: Happy, happy, happy pair
4. Recitative: Timotheus plac'd on high
5. Recitative: The song began from Jove
6. Chorus: The list'ning crowd admire the lofty sound
7. Aria: With ravish'd ears
8. Recitative: The praise of Bacchus
9. Aria: Bacchus ever fair and young
10. Chorus: Bacchus' blessings are a treasure
11. Recitative: Sooth'd with the sound
12. Recitative: He chose a mournful muse
13. Aria: He sung Darius, great and good
14. Recitative: With downcast looks
15. Chorus: Behold Darius, great and good
16. Recitative: The mighty Master smiled to see
17. Aria: Softly sweet in Lydian measure
18. Aria: War, he sung, is toil and trouble
19. Aria: The prince unable
20. Chorus: The many rend the skies
21. Recitative: Now strive the golden lyre again
22. Chorus: Break his bands of sleep asunder
23. Recitative: Hark, hark! the horrid sound
24. Aria: Revenge, Timotheus cries
25. Aria: Behold the ghastly band
26. Recitative: Give the vengeance due
27. Air and Chorus: The princes applaud with a furious joy
28. Air and Chorus: Thais led the way
29. Recitative: Thus long ago
30. Chorus: At last divine Cecilia came
31. Recitative and Chorus: Let old Timotheus yield the prize
32. Chorus: Your voices tune
Date of Composition 1736-01-17

First Performance. 1736-02-19 in London: Covent Garden

First Publication. 1736 ca.

Librettist John Dryden (1631-1700), 1697, arranged by Hamilton, with additional texts by Hamilton.

Language English (+ German translation by Ramler)