說實在,彌賽亞並不難懂,即使對其歌詞內容一無所知,也不會妨礙欣賞,反而多了一份詮釋的自由。我當年聽時,只知道第一部分的合唱曲For unto us a Child is born&田園曲是描述耶穌基督的誕生,第二幕開場的合唱Behold the Lamb of God&詠嘆調He was despised是描述受難,尾聲的哈利路亞是偉大的頌讚,而第三部分有一首帶著小號的長長詠嘆調The trumpet shall sound,是描述復活與最後審判,最後的羔羊頌歌Worthy is the Lamb與阿們也同樣是頌讚,如此而已。
還有這曲子完成於1741年,當時韓德爾已經56歲,前此他的歌劇事業已失敗,他也破產,但似乎被"彌賽亞"的人氣拯救,從此他努力寫神劇,終於達到不朽的地位。在寫作"彌賽亞"時他特別有靈感,寫"He was despised"是用淚水寫成,寫完"哈利路亞"時他說看到了上帝與耶穌,在演出時英國國王因為太感動而起立致敬,所以至今演奏此曲時都要起立...
Comfort ye, comfort ye, My people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity ispardoned; ...The voice of him that cried in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
3.Every valley shall be exhalted (Tenor) 5:55 詠嘆調 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.
5.Thus saith the Lord (男低音) 伴奏吟誦調,即是有伴奏的宣敘調 11:29 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations;and the desire of all nations shall come.
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
萬軍之耶和華說:「你們所尋求的主,必忽然進入他的殿;立約的使者,就是你們所仰慕的,快要來到。」
6.But who may abide (男低音) 12:54
詠嘆調,帶有烈火一樣激動的中段,我們知道,韓德爾後來有改編這曲子作為其他用途。 But who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiners fire.
他來的日子,誰能當得起呢?他顯現的時候,誰能立得住呢?因為他如煉金之人的火。
7.And He shall purify (合唱) 17:05
賦格曲,為舊作義大利二重唱Quel fior che allalbaride(HWV 192)改編,主題經過多次進場,好像才”洗淨”,融合在一起。 And He shall purify the sons of Levy, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering of righteousness.
他必潔淨利未人,他們就憑公義獻供物給耶和華。
8.Behold, a virgin shall conceive (女低音,或用假聲男高音) 19:31
沒有伴奏的典型宣敘調。 Behold! A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us.
必有童女懷孕生子,給他起名叫以馬內利,上帝與我們同在。
9.O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (女高音-合唱) 19:56
詠嘆調-合唱,但主旋律與歌詞相同,合唱到來時相當感人(23:21),也增加了信念。 O thou that tellest good tidings of Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Isaiah 40:9
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
興起!發光!因為你的光已經來到,耶和華的榮耀發現照耀你。
10.For behold, darkness shall cover the earth (男低音) 24:51
伴奏吟誦調。即是有伴奏的宣敘調,相當陰暗。
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee; and His glory shall be seen upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
在黑暗中行走的百姓看見了大光;住在死蔭之地的人有光照耀他們。
12.For unto us a child is born (合唱) 30:45
是舊作清唱劇”No, di voi non vo fidarmi(HWV 189)”的改編,但擴張到四段,且越來越亮麗,除了弦樂外,也加入雙簧管的編制,開頭那些複雜的弦樂與雙簧管花腔,也會由合唱唱出,更加歡樂熱鬧,尤其第四段女高音&女低音聲部以隔三度的距離同唱(33:34),也是本劇中少數有前奏與後奏的曲子,常被演唱。 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
宣敘調-伴奏吟誦調,在”天兵”出現時(38:15),還有絢麗活潑的弦樂伴奏。 There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
15.And the angel said unto them (女高音) And the Angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee! He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.
19.Then shall the eyes of the blind (女低音) 簡單的宣敘調 44:24
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, and He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
他必像牧人牧羊自己的羊群,用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在懷中,慢慢引導那乳養小羊的。
Come unto him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
也是舊作義大利二重唱Quel fior che allalbaride(HWV 192)的改編,為多聲部對位法與齊頭和聲式音樂的交替,是韓德爾的典型作風,最後以齊聲大合唱結束第一部,此曲的降B大調,為下一曲的關係調g小調做準備。 His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light.
因為他的軛是容易的,他的擔子是輕省的。
哈利路亞大合唱最後,韓德爾的手稿
第二部分
22. Behold the Lamb of God (合唱) 52:28
標明為”緩慢的”,帶有附點音符,送葬意味濃厚,明確的g小調合唱曲,讓此部分開始,就充滿沉重氣氛,在弦樂上加了兩支雙簧管。 Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
用降E大調下屬調的降A大調,其關係調的f小調,更加激烈的附點音符節奏,合唱最後停在降A大調(1:06:44),似乎要強調”平安”,最後卻還是被強烈的附點節奏,以小調結束。 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.
He trusted in God that He would deliver him; let Him deliver him, if He delight in him.
他把自己交託耶和華,耶和華可以救他吧!耶和華既喜悅他,可以搭救他吧!
29.Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (男高音) 1:15:27
又是一首伴奏吟誦調,連續性的合唱也暫時結束,進入比較內省的境界。這曲子雖短,但有大量轉調,甚至讓調性模糊不清,好不容易像是e小調時(1:15:53),和聲卻變E大調,然後突變為降E大調(1:16:08),這裡最為精彩,隨後又莫名其妙轉為升C小調(1:16:20),簡直是魔鬼之筆了。隨後又半音下降回到C音(1:16:34),又下降半音到B大調,才結束曲子,韓德爾這首曲子,比後世浪漫派奇特,新穎的和聲毫不遜色。 Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man, neither found He any to comfort Him.
辱罵傷破了他的心,他又滿了憂愁;他指望有人體恤,卻沒有一個;他指望有人安慰,卻找不著一個。
30.Behold and see if there be any (男高音) 1:16:48
抒情詠嘆調,韓德爾又使用慣技,B大調做為第三音,順利轉至G大調,但剛開始反而像是第三級上的調式音樂,調性並不很清楚,到第二段才破除迷霧(1:17:25),正式展開G大調,而最後則是關係調e小調,好像是無奈的嘆息。。 Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow.
你們要觀看,又像這臨到他的痛苦沒有?
31.He was cut off (男高音) 1:18:18
又是一首伴奏吟誦調,結尾轉為E大調。 He was cut off from the land of the living; for the trangressions of Thy people was He stricken.
他從活人之地被剪除,是因我百姓的罪過。
32.But thou didst not leave (男高音) 1:18:33
這是復活的預言,明朗的A大調樂曲,注意其音型與上一首詠嘆調很像,互相呼應,只是那時很悲傷,現在得到撫慰,注意結尾盡頭時的八度落下(1:20:37),後面許多曲子也是如此。 But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
它的靈魂不撇在陰間,他的肉身也不見朽壞。
33.Lift up your heads (合唱) 1:20:41
全劇唯一的二重式合唱,由兩個男聲部與三個女聲部呼應。問:榮耀的王是誰呢?回答:就是又能有力的耶和華。到”萬軍之耶和華”時,才合起來,並恢復成四聲部(1:21:49),並由此開展,以三次頌讚達到輝煌的高潮,但各聲部常出現的節奏,其音型與第30首的Behold and see相關,也是榮耀的象徵,又是一次的三度式轉調,到F大調。 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
Unto which of the Angels said He at any time, Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee?
上帝曾對哪一位天使說:「你是我的兒子,我今天生了你」?
35.Let all the angels of God (合唱) 1:23:53 以大合唱開始,後來卻變成精巧的二主題賦格,這也是舊作”義大利二重唱”的改編曲。注意這裡又是以三度轉調到了D大調,這是第二次了,此調也是後面”哈利路亞”的調性,難道快抵達了嗎? Let all the angels of God worship Him.
Thou art gone up on high; Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, yea, even from thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
你已經升上高天,擄掠仇敵;你在人間,就是在悖逆的人間,受了供獻,叫耶和華上帝可以與他們同住。
37.The Lord gave the word (合唱) 1:28:16
簡短卻具有強烈視覺感的合唱,彷彿可看到大群的人們,又是一個三度轉調,讓曲子從d小調成為降B大調。 The Lord gave the word, great was the company of the preachers.
Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.
他們的聲音傳遍天下,他們的言語傳到地極。
40.Why do the nations so furious rage (男低音) 1:33:05
不意外,又是下降三度,回到了C大調,此曲的妙趣就在於其前奏,也剛好是男低音演唱的伴奏(1:33:28),這是巴洛克作曲家常見的方式,只是像此激烈旋律又好聽的佳作,並不多見,注意降B音的轉折(1:35:00)~將曲子順利下降到更”陰謀”的第二段” 臣宰一同商議”(1:35:07),看來傳道人碰到了不少困難。 Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His Annointed.
一樣是C大調的賦格風曲子,可聽到各聲部如掙脫枷鎖般的彈出來,跳脫這些"陰謀"的束縛。 Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.
我們要掙開他們的捆綁,脫去他們的繩索。
42.He that dwelleth in Heaven (男高音) 0:22 普通的宣敘調
He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision.
那坐在天上的必發笑,主必嗤笑他們。
43.Thou shalt break them (男高音) 1:37:38
弦樂有”打破”似的音型,音程擴大,為C大調的關係調a小調,這也是一首我很愛的曲子,上帝如同擊打祂們,破除了阻礙。 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel.
“因為主我們的上帝,全能者作王了”這段是用四聲部齊唱(1:39:54),威力驚人,並再次使用了小號與定音鼓,當這段旋律與”哈利路亞”的旋律結合時(1:40:16),不僅是天使之聲,也是多聲部對位法的絕技,剛剛的齊唱由如天女散花分離。而”他要作王,直到永永遠遠”這段使用了賦格風(1:40:59),合唱已經大喊:for ever and ever!”萬王之王,萬主之主”這段由屬音a開始(1:41:22),到主音d,再來e音,f音,終點在下屬音g,到達至高點,然後傾洩下來,配合弦樂興奮但精美的伴奏,以二次頌讚結束。 Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.(Revelation 19:6b) The Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
我知道我的救贖主活著,末了必站立在地上。我這皮肉滅絕之後,我必在肉體之外得見上帝。
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits of them that sleep.
Since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
死既是因一人而來,死人復活也是因一人而來,在亞當裡眾人都死了,照樣,在基督裡眾人也都要復活。
47.Behold, I tell you a mystery (Bass) 1:51:08
好久不見的吟誦宣敘調,以弦樂伴奏,而轉到D大調,強調的是勝利,也是復活的遠景。 Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
繼第二部的” He was despised”,又一首長大的返始詠嘆調,也是唯一使用小號的,當然是為了表達最後審判的號角。此曲妙處是聽歌者的聲音,如何與小號的聲音交錯,形成一個漂亮的整體。中段”這必朽壞的總要變成不朽壞的”依慣例轉為比較陰暗的小調,以作為對比,在主段又重覆後,歌者通常要做些變化以避免單調,結束句就是最好的例子(1:59:52)。
The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
49.Then shall be brought to pass (Contralto) 2”00:31
簡單的宣敘調,轉為F大調,是要開始往上三度轉調了嗎? Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory!
經上所記「死被得勝吞滅」的話就應驗了。
50.O death where is thy sting (女低音& 男高音,合唱) 2:00:45
全劇唯一的二重唱,也是舊作義大利二重唱Se tu non lasci amore”(HWV 193)改編,此段歌詞布拉姆斯的”德意志安魂曲”也在第三部使用過,可作一對比。先意外由降E大調開始,由降E音到上一曲結尾的F音,像是跟隨出來的一樣,兩個聲部也互相模仿跟隨。
合唱開始(2:01:40),反而是有點溫柔的,表現感謝上帝之意,並用了前面二重唱的主旋律(2:02:06)。 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
死啊,你的毒鉤在哪裡?死啊,你得勝的權勢在哪裡?死的毒鉤就是罪,罪的權勢就是律法。
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay anything to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who makes intercession for us.
賦格曲開始是由男高音與男低音聲部一起的(2:09:36),音型很像是哈利路亞大合唱中的“因為主我們的上帝,全能者作王了”,實是巧妙的呼應與安排,這首賦格曲用了韓德爾慣用的模式,即將主題的後半作為副主題(2:09:53),女高音答題時並未轉調(2:09:47),直到女低音聲部答題時才轉到屬調(2:10:00),也安排了緊急段(2:10:15),並再次喊叫著:for ever and ever!(2:11:07)
此曲停在一個巨大的半終止,就開始了最後的”阿們”合唱(2:11:39),這又是一個賦格曲,主題從主音D開始,歷經曲折,又回到主音D。經過四個聲部的互相模仿後,突然以大合唱爆發(2:12:56),這樣的手法並不常見,因為通常要賦格曲充分發展後,才會這樣,也讓曲子更加輝煌。此後就如大江大海一般,上下翻騰,以"阿們"兩個字就能做出這樣的效果,這也是巴洛克作曲家的得意技巧。最後以此主題的本體與倒影相結合(2:14:52),壯麗結束全曲。 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.