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SONG 9 – Rachel’s Tears
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (Remembering the Innocents) The Shadow in the Christmas Story We come now to the hardest piece in the oratorio – “Rachel’s Tears,” a somber baroque lament for the Holy Innocents slaughtered by Herod. Most Christmas celebrations skip this part. It’s uncomfortable. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s part of the story, and it matters.…
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SONG 8 – Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (The Weight He Carried) Understanding Substitution Following “He Was Despised,” we move to “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs” – a contemplative baroque aria that explores what Jesus actually CARRIED for us on the cross. The Biblical Foundation Isaiah 53:4-6 continues the prophecy: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our…
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SONG 7 – He Was Despised
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (The Lament of Rejection) The Heart of Part II We’ve celebrated the birth. We’ve rejoiced with the shepherds. But now the oratorio shifts – because the Christmas story doesn’t end in a manger. It leads to a cross. “He Was Despised” opens Part II: The Passion. This is the most somber piece…
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SONG 6 – Without Hesitation
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (The Shepherds’ Response) When Faith Moves Your Feet After the glorious celebration of Christ’s birth, we zoom in on the first people to respond – the shepherds. These weren’t religious leaders or wealthy wise men. They were working-class nobodies. And yet, they ran. The Biblical Foundation Luke 2:8-20 tells the story: “And…
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Why Your Follow & Your Streams Matter More Than You Think
Hey friends, I want to talk to you about something really practical today – something that can make a huge difference in how you experience my music and how my music reaches more people who need to hear it. Hit that Follow button. SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE Seriously. Whether you’re on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music,…
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SONG 5 – For Unto Us a Child is Born
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (The Birth Celebration) Pure Baroque Joy This is IT – the moment we’ve been building toward! “For Unto Us a Child is Born” is the celebration of Christ’s birth, written in the same joyful fugue style as Handel’s famous version. Multiple voice parts entering, weaving, celebrating together that the child is born,…
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SONG 4 – The Promise Kept
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (Prophecy Fulfilled) When God Keeps His Word “The Promise Kept” is the heart of Part I – the moment when all those prophecies, all that preparation, all that waiting comes to fruition. This is the longest, most complex piece in the oratorio, featuring multiple soloists, recitatives, arias, and full chorus in baroque…
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SONG 3 – And the Glory of the Lord
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (The Revelation) When Heaven Breaks Through After the invitation (Comfort Ye) and the call to preparation (Every Valley), comes the promise: “And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” This is one of the most beloved choruses in baroque oratorio – and for good…
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SONG 2 – Every Valley Shall Be Exalted
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (Preparing the Way) The Virtuoso Call to Action After the tender invitation of “Comfort Ye,” the oratorio explodes with energy in “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted.” This is where the tenor soloist gets to show off – rapid melismatic runs, elaborate baroque ornamentation, virtuosic vocal technique that declares: preparation isn’t passive, it’s…
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SONG 1 – Comfort Ye
SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • AMAZON MUSIC • DEEZER • PANDORA • YOUTUBE (Opening Invitation) When Prophecy Becomes Personal Every great oratorio needs an opening that draws you in, that prepares your heart for what’s coming. Handel’s Messiah opens with the tender, almost whispered “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” I wanted my Modern Messiah to begin the same way – with comfort, with invitation,…
About
Singer-songwriter turning 10+ journals of songs into reality ✨ Classical soprano gone indie | Transparent about AI collaboration | “Through It All” album Feb 2026 | Mom of 2 | 5:30am fitness | Also quilts sewmelanie.com
