THE CREATION
Franz Josef Haydn
Baron Gottfried van Swieten
PART ONE
1.) Introduction
The Representation of Chaos (Orchestra)
2.) Recitative: Raphael (Bass)
In the beginning God created the Heaven, and the earth; and the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
Chorus:
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said: Let there be Light, and there was Light.
Recitative: Uriel (Tenor)
And God saw the Light, that it was good: and God divided the Light from the darkness.
3.) Aria: Uriel
Now vanish before the holy beams the gloomy dismal shades of dark; the first of days appears. Disorder yields to order the fair place. Affrighted fled hell's spirits black in throngs; down they sink in the deep of abyss to endless night.
Chorus:
Despairing cursing rage attends their rapid fall. A new-created world springs up at God's command.
4.) Recitative: Raphael
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so.
Accompanied Recitative: Raphael
Outrageous storms now dreadful arose; as chaff by the winds are impelled the clouds. By heaven's fire the sky is enflamed and awfull rolled the thunders on high. Now from the floods in steam ascend reviving showers of rain, the dreary wasteful hail, the light and flaky snow.
5.) Aria with Chorus:
Gabriel (Soprano)
The marv'lous work beholds amaz'd the glorious hierarchy of Heav'n; and to th' ethereal vaults resound the praise of God, and of the second day.
Chorus
And to th' ethereal vaults resound the praise of God, and of the second day.
6.) Recitative: Raphael
And God said: Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so. And God called the dry land: earth, and the gathering of waters called he seas; and God saw that it was good.
7.) Aria: Raphael
Rolling in foaming billows uplifted roars the boist'rous sea. Mountains and rocks now emerge; their tops into the clouds ascend. Thro' th' open plains outstretching wide in serpent error rivers flow. Softly purling glides on thro' silent vales the limpid brook.
8.) Recitative: Gabriel
And God said: Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb-yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth; and it was so.
9.) Aria: Gabriel
With verdure clad the fields appear delightful to the ravish'd sense; by flowers sweet and gay enhanced is the charming sight. Here vent their fumes the fragrant herbs; here shoots the healing plant. By loads of fruit th' expanded boughs are press'd; to shady vaults are bent the tufty groves; the mountain's brow is crown'd with closed wood.
10.) Recitative: Uriel
And the heav'nly host proclaimed the third day, praising God and saying:
11.) Chorus:
Awake the harp, the lyre awake! In shout and joy your voices raise! In triumph sing the mighty Lord! For he the heavens and earth has cloathed in stately dress.
12.) Recitative: Uriel
And God said: Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night, and to give light upon the earth; and let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days, and for years. He made the stars also.
13.) Accompanied Recitative: Uriel
In splendour bright is rising now the sun and darts his rays: an am'rous joyful happy spouse, a giant proud and glad, to run his measur'd course. With softer beams and milder light steps on the silver moon through silent night. The space immense of th' azure sky innum'rous host of radiant orbs adorns. And the sons of God announced the fourth day in song divine, proclaiming thus his power:
14.) Chorus with Voices:
Chorus
The heavens are telling the glory of God. The wonder of his works displays the firmament.
Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael
To day, that is coming, speaks it the day; the night, that is gone, to following night.
Chorus
The heavens are telling the glory of God. The wonder of works displays the firmament.
Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael
In the all the land resounds the word, never unperceived, ever understood.
Chorus
The heavens are telling the glory of God. The wonder of his works displays the firmament.
PART TWO
15.) Recitative: Gabriel
And God said: Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl, that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven."
16.) Aria: Gabriel
On mighty pens uplifted soars the eagle aloft, and cleaves the air in swiftest flight to the blazing sun. His welcome bids to morn the merry lark, and cooing, calls the tender dove his mate. From ev'ry bush and grove resound the nightingale's delightful notes. No grief affected yet her breast, nor to a mournful tale were tun'd her soft enchanting lays.
17.) Recitative: Raphael
And God created great whales, and ev'ry living creature that moveth. And God blessed them, saying: Be fruitful all, and multiply! Ye winged tribes, be mulitply'd and sing on ev'ry tree! Mulitply, ye finny tribes, and fill each wat'ry deep! Be fruitful, grow, and multiply! And in your God and Lord rejoice!"
18.) Recitative: Raphael
And the angels struck their immortal harps and the wonders of the fifth day sung.
19.) Trio:
Gabriel
Most beautyfull appear, with verdure young adorn'd, the gently sloping hills. Their narrow sinuous veins distill in crystal drops the fountain fresh and bright.
Uriel
In lofty circles play and hover thro' the sky the chearful host of birds. And in the flying whirl, the glitt'ring plumes are died, as rainbows, by the sun.
Raphael
See flashing thro' the wet in thronged swarms the fry on thousand ways around. Upheaved from the deep, th' immense Leviathan sports on the foaming wave.
Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael
How many are thy works, O God? Who may their numbers tell? Who, O God? Who may their numbers tell?
20.) Chorus and Trio
The Lord is great and great his might. His glory lasts for ever and evermore.
21.) Recitative: Raphael
And God said: Let earth bring forth the living creature after his kind; cattle and creeping thing, and beasts of the earth after their kind."
Accompanied Recitative: Raphael
Strait opening her fertile womb, the earth obey'd the word, and teem'd creatures numberless, in perfect forms and fully grown. Cheerful, roaring, stands the tawny lion. In sudden leaps the flexible tyger appears. The nimble stag bears up his branching head. With flying mane and fiery look, impatient neighs the sprightly steed. The cattle in herds already seeks his food on fields and meadows green. And oe'r the ground, as plants, are spread the fleecy, meek and bleating flock. Unnumber'd as the sands in whirl arose the host of insects. In long dimension creeps with sinuous trace the worm.
22.) Aria: Raphael
Now heav'n in fullest glory shone; earth smiles in all her rich attire. The room of air with fowl is fill'd; the water swell'd by shoals of fish; by heavy beasts the ground is trod. But all the work was not complete. There wanted yet that wond'rous being, that grateful should God's pow'r admire, with heart and voice his goodness praise.
23.) Recitative: Uriel
And God created man in his own image. In the image of God created he him. Male and female created he them. He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
24.) Aria: Uriel
In native worth and honor clad, with beauty, courage, strength adorn'd, to heav'n erect and tall, he stands a man, the Lord and King of nature all. The large and arched front sublime of wisdom deep declares the seat. And in his eyes with brightness shines the soul, the breath and image of his God. With fondness leans upon his breast a partner for him form'd, a woman fair and graceful spouse. Her softly smiling virgin looks, of flow'ry spring the mirror, bespeak him love, and joy, and bliss.
25.) Recitative: Raphael
And God saw ev'ry thing that he had made; and behold, it was very good; and the heavenly choir in song divine thus closed the sixth day.
26.) Chorus with Voices:
Chorus
Atchieved is the glorious work; the Lord beholds it and is pleas'd. In lofty strains let us rejoice! Our song let be the praise of God.
Gabriel, Uriel
On thee each living soul awaits; from thee, O Lord, they beg their meat. Thou openest thy hand, and sated all they are.
Raphael
But as to them thy face is hid, with sudden terror they are struck. Thou tak'st their breath away; they vanish into dust.
Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael
Thou lett'st thy breath go forth again, and life with vigor fresh returns. Revived earth unfolds new force and new delights.
Chorus
Atchieved is the glorious work. Our song let be the praise of God. Glory to his name forever; he sole on high exalted reigns, alleluia.
PART THREE
27.) Accompanied Recitative: Uriel
In rosy mantle appears, by tunes sweet awak'd, the morning young and fair. From the celestial vaults pure harmony descends on ravished earth. Behold the blissful pair, where hand in hand they go! Their flaming looks express what feels the grateful heart. A louder praise of God their lips shall utter soon. Then let our voices ring, united with their song!
28.) Chorus with Duet:
Eve (Soprano), Adam (Baritone)
By thee with bliss, o bounteous Lord, the heav'n and and earth are stor'd. This world, so great, so wonderful, thy mighty hand has fram'd.
Chorus
For ever blessed be his pow'r! His name be ever magnified!
Adam
Of stars the fairest, o how sweet thy smile at dawning morn! How brighten'st thou, o Sun, the day, thou eye and soul of all!
Chorus
Proclaim in your extended course th' almighty pow'r and praise of God!
Eve
And thou, that rul'st the silent night, and all ye starry host, spread wide and ev'ry where his praise in choral songs about.
Adam
Ye strong and comb'rous elements, who ceaseless changes make, ye dusky mists and dewy streams that rise and fall thro' th' air:
Eve, Adam, Chorus
Resound the praise of God our Lord! Great is his name, and great his might.
Eve
Ye purling fountains, tune his priase, and wave your tops, ye pines! Ye plants, exhale, ye flowers breathe at him your balmy scent!
Adam
Ye, that on mountains stately tread, and ye, that lowly creep; ye birds that sing at heaven's gate, and ye, that swim the stream;
Eve, Adam, Chorus
Ye living souls, extol the Lord! Him celebrate, him magnify!
Eve, Adam
Ye vallies, hills, and shady woods, our raptur'd notes ye heard; from morn till ev'n you shall repeat our grateful hymns of praise!
Chorus
Hail, bounteous Lord! Almighty, hail! Thy word call'd forth this wond'rous frame. Thy pow'r adore the heav'n and earth; we praise thee now and evermore.
29.) Recitative
Adam
Our duty we performed now, in off'ring up to God our thanks. Now follow me, dear partner of my life! Thy guide I'll be, and and ev'ry step pours new delight into our breast, shews wonders ev'ry where. Then may'st thou feel and know the high degree of bliss the Lord allotted us, and with devoted heart his bounty celebrate. Come, follow me! Thy guide I'll be.
Eve
O thou for whom I am! My help, my shield, my all! Thy will is law to me. So God, our Lord, ordains, and from obedience grows my pride and happiness.
30.) Duet
Adam
Graceful consort! At thy side softly fly the golden hours. Ev'ry moment brings new rapture, ev'ry care is put to rest.
Eve
Spouse adored! At thy side purest joys o'erflow the heart. Life and all I am is thine; my reward thy love shall be.
Eve, Adam
The dew-dropping morn, O how she quickens all! The coolness of ev'n, O how she all restores! How grateful is of fruits the savour sweet! How pleasing is of fragrant bloom the smell! But, without thee, what is to me the morning dew, the breath of even, the sav'ry fruit, the fragrant bloom? With thee is ev'ry joy enhanced, with thee delight is ever new; with thee is life incessant bliss; thine it whole shall be.
31.) Recitative: Uriel
O happy pair, and always happy yet, if not, misled by false conceit, ye strive at more, as granted is, and more to know, as know ye should!
32.) Chorus with Soloists
Sing the Lord, ye voices all! Utter thanks ye all his works! Celebrate his pow'r and glory! Let his name resound on high! The Lord is great, his praise shall last for aye. Amen.