O LORD, WHOSE MERCIES NUMBERLESS
This is from Handel's oratorio, Saul, which dramatizes parts of Samuel. In this aria, David begs God to cure the mad Saul. Transposed words are used in older poetic texts to allow for meter and rhyme. Untangled, the words say to God, "Despite man's sins, you patiently show mercy over everything. If Saul's sin is not so great, control the devil that possesses him; wait for Saul to repent and heal him."
The Devil as tempter is a Christian idea, but Handel wrote in a Christian culture and read the Bible as a Christian. However in Samuel God causes Saul's paranoia (suspicion) and depression (sadness).
Musically this aria is ravishing, its beauty mostly in the melismas (using many notes for a single word). If you follow along, understand that composers repeat some words many times, or go back to a previous word to suit the melody.
This may not be to your taste but give it a try. One final note: in Handel's time, men's roles were sometimes written for castrati, singers with high voices. This convention is followed here. These singers are called counter-tenors, with high voices, although the singer is supposed to be a male, David.
Handel's music may sound more distant than the music of a Romantic composer but none other than Beethoven said that Handel was the only composer to whom he would bow ("To him I would bend my knee").
O Lord, whose mercies numberless o'er all thy works, prevail, though daily Man thy law transgress, Thy patience cannot fail; if yet his sin be not too great, the busy fiend control; yet longer for repentance wait, and heal his wounded soul.This is from Handel's oratorio, Saul, which dramatizes parts of Samuel. In this aria, David begs God to cure the mad Saul. Transposed words are used in older poetic texts to allow for meter and rhyme. Untangled, the words say to God, "Despite man's sins, you patiently show mercy over everything. If Saul's sin is not so great, control the devil that possesses him; wait for Saul to repent and heal him."
The Devil as tempter is a Christian idea, but Handel wrote in a Christian culture and read the Bible as a Christian. However in Samuel God causes Saul's paranoia (suspicion) and depression (sadness).
Musically this aria is ravishing, its beauty mostly in the melismas (using many notes for a single word). If you follow along, understand that composers repeat some words many times, or go back to a previous word to suit the melody.
This may not be to your taste but give it a try. One final note: in Handel's time, men's roles were sometimes written for castrati, singers with high voices. This convention is followed here. These singers are called counter-tenors, with high voices, although the singer is supposed to be a male, David.
Handel's music may sound more distant than the music of a Romantic composer but none other than Beethoven said that Handel was the only composer to whom he would bow ("To him I would bend my knee").
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