Each year, midway through the Easter season, we celebrate Jesus as the Good Shepherd. You’ll know when it’s Good Shepherd Sunday as the hymns all have a distinctly sheepy theme. There are a few “go to” anthems for that day too, including various settings of Psalm 23, as well as “He Shall Feed His Flock”.
George Frederic Handel wrote this aria as part of his famous oratorio, “Messiah”. Born in Germany, Handel settled in London in 1712. He established three commercial opera companies to meet the needs of the English nobility for Italian opera. However, in 1737 the strain of such massive composition commitments coupled with changes in musical fashions led to a complete breakdown, which broke him financially. When well enough, Handel changed direction creatively, invented the oratorio – an opera in form, but without staging, costumes or scenery – and began work on “Messiah”.
With texts taken from the King James Bible, “Messiah” tracks the course of Jesus’ life, from Isaiah’s prophecies (Part I) through the annunciation to the shepherds, to the Passion of Christ (Part II), and Paul’s teachings and the book of Revelation (Part III). There are 52 movements (chapters), and “He Shall Feed His Flock” is no. 20, preceded by the recitative “Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened”, both of which are offered in keys to suit either a soprano or alto voice. A recitative is essentially sung narrative, which moves the plot on. The words are:
| Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. (Isaiah 35: 5-6) |
| 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. (Isaiah 40: 11) |
| Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that 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. (Matthew 11: 28-29) |
One of my personal all-time highlights was singing “Messiah” in Nairobi in October 2024, as part of a massed choir of Kenyan church choirs and the English Touring Choir, accompanied by a 50-strong Kenyan orchestra. We performed in the Kenyan Tribal National Congress and were surprised to learn later that there was a baboon in the rafters! https://youtube.com/shorts/FC3BuRc3T6Q?feature=share
I have performed “Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind be Opened” and “He Shall Feed His Flock” many times with Tom during services on Good Shepherd Sunday. Here is a recording we made in 2021, when restrictions were still in place for congregational singing in church services: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7AIxbYU3oc
Carol P
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 