Without drawing this out and making it a real bore - I have just selected a few songs as highlights. These are songs that you may know once you hear them.

We are now in Part II - which is the passion of Christ. It opens with "Behold the Lamb of God." You may have noticed that the first part was about the life of Christ, but it never discussed what Christ said. Messiah favours covering a "broad" - or comprehensive - understanding of Christ's life. Therefore you have his birth talked about, his healings (as prophesied in Isaiah) and that He is a shepherd. This metaphor will be picked up on in Part II.

Then the Chorus sings two heart rending songs.

Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
- is a choral piece that unites everyone in song - uniting us in our guilt about the necessity of Christ to bear sin for us. The message is haunting...and so is the music.
- listen to the music chord change at "the chastisment" - even if you are "not musical" you will know the part when you hear it.

AND one of my favorites, picking up on the sheep theme again.

All We Like Sheep...have gone astray. We have turned (and the music for this part is dizzying. The effect of the music is meant to create the effect of turning away from God - there is only confusion.) And a good conductor will have the choir, when they are singing many notes but only one word, it actually sounds like the Baahh of sheep. It is a wonderful song because the mode of music creates the reality of the text. If you don't listen to any other song, listen to this one. And just remember that sheep are also some of the dumbest animals;)