HolmesBaritone

One man sings 'What have I to do with thee?' and 'Blessed are the men who fear Him' from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Lyrics: An Angel Now Cherith’s brook is dried up, Elijah; arise and depart; and get thee to Zarephath; thither abide: for the Lord hath commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. And the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. The Widow What have I to do with thee, O man of God? art thou come to me, to call my sin unto remembrance? – to slay my son art thou come hither? Help me, man of God! my son is sick! and his sickness is so sore, that there is no breath left in him! I go mourning all the day long; I lie down and weep at night. See mine affliction. Be thou the orphan’s helper! Elijah Give me thy son. Turn unto her, O lord my God; in mercy help this widow’s son! For thou art gracious, and full of compassion, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Lord my God, O let the spirit of this child return, that he again may live. The Widow Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? There is no breath, no breath in him. Elijah Lord my God, let the spirit of this child return, that he again may live! The Widow Shall the dead arise, the dead arise and praise thee? Elijah Lord, my God, O let the spirit of this child return, that he again may live! The Widow The Lord hath heard thy prayer, the soul of my son reviveth! My son reviveth! Elijah Now behold, thy son liveth! The Widow Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that His word in thy mouth is the truth. What shall I render to the Lord, for all his benefits to me? Elijah Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; with all thy heart, and Both with all thy/my soul, and with all thy/my might. O blessed are they who fear Him! People Blessed are the men who fear Him, they ever walk in the way of peace. Through darkness riseth light, light to the upright. He is gracious, compassionate; He is righteous. Check out my Website - https://aaronholmesopera.com/

One man sings 'Elijah, get thee hence' and 'For He shall give his angels charge over thee' from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Lyrics: An Angel Elijah! Get thee hence, Elijah! Depart and turn thee eastward: thither hide thee by Cherith’s brook. There shalt thou drink its waters; and the Lord thy God hath commanded the ravens to feed thee there: so do according unto His word. Angels For He shall give His angels charge over thee; that they shall protect thee in all the ways thou goest; that their hands shall uphold and guide thee, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Check out my Website - https://aaronholmesopera.com/

One man sings 'Yet doth the Lord see it not' from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Lyrics: The People Yet doth the Lord see it not, He mocketh at us; His curse hath fallen down upon us, His wrath will pursue us till He destroy us. For He, the Lord our God, He is a jealous God, and He visiteth all the fathers’ sins on the children to the third and the fourth generation of them that hate Him. His mercies on thousands fall, on all them that love him and keep his commandments. Check out my Website - https://aaronholmesopera.com/

One man sings 'If with all your hearts' from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Lyrics: Obadiah Ye people, rend your hearts and not your garments for your transgressions: the prophet Elijah hath sealed the heavens through the word of God. I therefore say to ye: forsake your idols, return to God; for He is slow to anger, and merciful, and kind, and gracious, and repenteth Him of the evil. ‘If with all your hearts ye truly seek Me, ye shall ever surely find Me.’ Thus saith our God. Oh! that I knew where I might find Him, that I might even come before His presence! Check out my Website - https://aaronholmesopera.com/

One man sings 'Lord! bow Thine ear to our prayer' from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Lyrics: The People Lord, bow Thine ear to our prayer Two Women Zion spreadeth her hands for aid, and there is neither help nor comfort. Check out my Website - https://aaronholmesopera.com/

One man sings 'As God the Lord of Israel liveth' and 'Help Lord' from Mendelssohn's Elijah. Lyrics: ELIJAH: As God the Lord of Israel liveth, before whom I stand: There shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. THE PEOPLE: Help, Lord! Wilt Thou quite destroy us! The harvest now is over, the summer days are gone, and yet no power cometh to help us! Will then the Lord be no more God in Zion? The deeps afford no water! And the rivers are exhausted! The suckling’s tongue now cleaveth for thirst to his mouth! The infant children ask for bread! And there is no one breaketh it to feed them Check out my Website - https://aaronholmesopera.com/

One man sings Stainer's Crucifixion.

One man sings 'After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished' and 'For the love of Jesus' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Narrator After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished saith, Jesus I thirst. Narrator When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, Jesus It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Narrator And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Hymn All for Jesus! All for Jesus! This our song shall ever be, For we have no hope, nor Saviour, If we have not hope in Thee! All for Jesus Thou wilt give us Strength to serve Thee, hour by hour; None can move us from Thy presence, While we trust Thy love and power. All for Jesus at thine alter Thou wilt give us sweet content There, dear Lord, we shall receive Thee In the solemn Sacrement. All for Jesus! Thou hast loved us; All for Jesus! Thou hast died; All for Jesus! Thou art with us; All for Jesus Crucified. All for Jesus! All for Jesus! This the Church's song must be till, at last, her sons are gathered one in love and one in Thee! Amen.

One man sings 'Is it nothing to you', and 'The Appeal of the Crucified' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Jesus Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow. Which is done unto Me, Where-with the Lord hath afflicted Me in the day of His fierce anger. The Appeal of the Crucified People From the Throne of His Cross, the King of grief Cries out to a world of unbelief: Oh men and women, afar and nigh, Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? I laid My eternal power aside, I came from the Home of the Glorified, A babe in the lowly cave to lie. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? I wept for the sorrows and pains of men, I healed them and helped them and loved them, But then, they shouted against Me, “ Crucify!” Is it nothing to you? Behold Me and see: pierced thro’ and thro’ with countless sorrows, and all is for you; For you I suffer, for you I die. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Oh men and women your deeds of shame, Your sins without reason and number and name, I bear them all on the Cross on high, Is it nothing to you? Is it nothing to you that I bow My Head? And nothing to you that My Blood is shed? Oh! Perishing souls to you I cry, Is it nothing to you? O come unto Me, by the woes I have borne, By the dreadful scourge, and the crown of thorns, By these I implore you to hear My cry, Is it nothing to you? O come unto Me, this awful price, Redemption’s tremendous sacrifice, Is paid for you. Oh! Why will ye die? O come unto Me! For why will ye die? Come to Me.

One man sings 'And one of the malefactors', 'The Adoration of the Crucified' and 'When Jesus therefore saw his mother' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Narrator And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him saying: First Malefactor “ If thou be the Christ save thyself and us.” Narrator But the other answering rebuked him, saying: Second Malefactor “ Dost not thou fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward for our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss.” Narrator And he said unto Jesus: Second Malefactor “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.” Narrator And Jesus said unto him: Jesus “Verily I say to thee, today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” Hymn – The Adoration of the Crucified I Adore Thee, I adore Thee! Glorious ere the world began; Yet more wonderful Thou shinest, Though divive, yet still divinest In Thy dying love for man. I Adore Thee, I adore Thee! Thankful at Thy feet to be; I have heard Thy accent thrilling, Lo! I come, for Thou art willing Me to pardon, even me. I Adore Thee, I adore Thee! Born of woman, yet Divine: Stained with sins I kneel before Thee, Sweetest Jesu, I implore Thee, Make me ever only Thine. Narrator When Jesus therefore saw his Mother and the diciples standing by, whom he loved; He saith unto His Mother: Jesus “Woman! Behold thy son.” Narrator Then saith He to the diciples: Jesus “Behold thy mother!” Narrator There was darkness over all the earth. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Jesus “My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

One man sings 'The Mystery of Intercession' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Jesus, the Crucified pleads for me, While he is nailed to the shameful tree, Scorned and forsaken, derided and curst, See how His enemies do their worst! Yet, in the midst of the torture and shame, Jesus, the Crucified, breathes my name! Wonder of wonders, oh! How can it be? Jesus, the Crucified, pleads for me! Lord, I have left Thee, I have denied, Followed the world in my selfish pride; Lord, I have joined in the hateful cry, Slay Him, away with Him, crucify. Lord, I have done it, oh! Ask me not how; Woven the thorns for Thy tortured Brow! Yet in His pity so boundless and free, Jesus, the Crucified, pleads for me! Though thou hast left Me and wandered away, Chosen the darkness instead of the day; Though thou art covered with many a stain, Though thou hast wounded Me oft and again, Though thou hast followed thy wayward will; Yet, in My pity, I love thee still. Wonder of wonders it ever must be! Jesus, the Crucified, pleads for me. Jesus is dying in agony sore, Jesus is suffering more and more, Jesus is bowed with the weight of His woe, Jesus is faint with each bitter throe, Jesus is bearing it all in my stead, Pity Incarnate for me has bled; Wonder of wonders it ever must be! Jesus, the Crucified, pleads for me!

One man sings 'Jesus said, "Father, forgive them"' and 'So thou liftest thy divine petition' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Narrator Jesus said, Jesus “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Duet So Thou liftest Thy divine petition, Pierc’d with cruel anguish through and through So Thou grievest o’er our lost condition, Pleading, “Ah, they know not what they do.” Oh ‘twas love, in love’s divinest feature, Passing o’er that dark and murd’rous blot, Finding e’en for each low fallen creature, Tho’ they slay Thee, one redeeming spot. Yes! And still Thy patient heart is yearning With a love that mortal scarce can bear. Thou in pity deep, divine, and burning Liftest e’en for me Thy mighty prayer. So Thou pleadest, e’en for my transgression, Bidding me look up, and trust, and live; So Thou mumurest Thine intercession, Bidding me look up, and trust, and live; So Thou pleadest, Yea, he knew not, For My sake forgive.

One man sings 'Litany of the Passion' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Holy Jesu, by thy passion, By the woes which none can share, Bourne in more than kingly fashion By thy love beyond compare: Crucified I turn to Thee, Son of Mary, plead for me. By the treachery and trial, By the blows and sore distress By desertion and denial by thine awful loneliness: Crucified I turn to Thee, Son of Mary, plead for me. By thy look so sweet and lowly, While they smote Thee on the Face, By Thy patience, calm and holy, In the midst of keen disgrace: Crucified I turn to Thee, Son of Mary, plead for me. By the hour of condemnation, By the blood which trickled down, When, for us and our salvation, Thou didst wear the robe and crown: Crucified I turn to Thee, Son of Mary, plead for me. By the path of sorrows dreary, By the Cross, Thy dreadful load, By the pain, when, faint and weary, Thou didst sink upon the road, Crucified I turn to Thee, Son of Mary, plead for me. By the Spirit which could render Love for hate and good for ill, By the mercy, sweet and tender, Poured upon Thy murderers still: Crucified I turn to Thee, Son of Mary, plead for me.

One man sings 'And as Moses lifted up the serpent' and 'God so loved the world' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Bass solo And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Mankind God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but everlasting life. For God sent not His Son in to the world to condemn the world; But that the world through Him might be saved. God so loved world.

One man sings 'He made himself of no reputation' and 'The Majesty of the Divine Humiliation' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Narrator He made Himself of no reputation, and took up on Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death ev'n the death of cross. Narrator - tenor King ever glorious! The dews of death are gathering round Thee, Upon the cross Thy foes have bound Thee. Thy strength is gone! Not in Thy Majesty, Robed in Heaven's supremest splendour But in weakness and surrender, Thou hangest here. Who can be like Thee? Pilate high in Zion dwelling? Rome with arms the world compelling? Proud though they be! Thou art sublime! Far more awful in Thy weakness, More than kingly in Thy meekness, Thou, Son of God! Glory, and honour - Let the world divided and take them; Crown its monarchs and unmake them - But Thou - Thou it reign! Here in abasement Crownless, Poor, Disrobed, And bleeding: There, in glory interceding, Thou art the King! Thou art the King!

One man sings 'And when they were come' and 'The Mystery of the Divine Humiliation' from Stainer's The Crucifixion. Lyrics: Narrator And when they had come to the place called Calvary There they crucified Him – they crucified Him. And the malefactors – one on the right, and the other on the left. Hymn – The Mystery of the Divine Humiliation Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow, Where the blood of Christ was shed, Perfect Man on thee was tortured, Perfect God on thee has bled! Here the King of all the ages, Throned in light ere worlds could be, Robed in mortal flesh is dying, Crucified by sin for me. O mysterious condescending! O abandoment sublime! Very God Himself is bearing All the sufferings of time! Evermore for human failure By his passion we can plead; God has borne all mortal anguish, Surely he will know our need. This all human thought surpassing This is earth's most awful hour, God has taken mortal weakness! God has laid aside his power! Once the Lord of brilliant seraphs, Winged with love to do his will, Now the scorn of all his creatures, And the aim of every ill. Up in heaven, sublimest glory Circled round him from the first; But the earth finds none to serve him, None to quench his raging thirst. Who shall fathom that descending, From the rainbow-circled throne, Down to earth's most base profaning, Dying desolate alone. From the “Holy, Holy, Holy, We adore Thee, O most High,” Down to earth’s blaspheming voices And the shout of “Crucify.” Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow, Where the blood of Christ was shed, Perfect Man on thee did suffer, Perfect God on thee has bled! Check out my Website - https://aaronholmesopera.com/