Messiah in America


Messiah in America is a 34-movement, 7-part oratorio composed by Brett Stewart. Its subject is Christ's visitation to the Americas, as depicted in the Book of Mormon. It is written for a choir, a children's chorus, Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass soloists, full orchestra and organ. The libretto was compiled by Brett Stewart and Bruce Richardson from the Book of Mormon and the Bible with no poetic insertions, in order to maintain scriptural integrity.
It debuted in concert on March 31, 2010, at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California by the Orange County group of the Millennial Choirs and Orchestras. The oratorio was recorded in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah, by all of Millennial Choirs and Orchestras. It was released as an album on December 13, 2011, and debuted as No. 1 on Billboard's Traditional Classical Album list.

Musical style

Brett Stewart's brother, Brandon Stewart describes him as a Neo-Romantic Contemporary. The great majority of the work is written in a Romantic style. However, it draws from every Western Music style period. Many elements, passages, and even whole movements are written in Baroque or Classical styles. Contemporary elements are throughout the work, most notably in the percussive tenth movement "There Arose a Great Storm". Movement fourteen has significant melismatic passages. The final movement "Amen" contains a fugal section.

Movements

Part One: Prophecy and Prelude

I. One fold, One Shepherd - Chorus
II. Overture: Victory March - Symphony orchestra
III. May the Lord Preserve His People - Chorus
IV. And Their Hearts Were Swollen With Joy - Alto

Part Two: Declination & Destruction

V. There Began to Be Some Disputings - Bass
VI. Now the Cause of This Iniquity - Bass
VII. And the People Were Divided - Chorus
VIII. The People Turned From Their Righteousness - Bass
IX. Peace but a Few Years - Chorus
X. There Arose a Great Storm - Chorus
XI. There Was Thick Darkness - Alto
XII. O That We Had Repented - Chorus

Part Three: The Voice

XIII. There Was a Voice Heard - Tenor
XIV. Wo, Wo, Wo Unto This People - Tenor
XV. O Ye People of the House of Israel - Tenor and Bass
XVI. And The Darkness Dispersed - Tenor

Part Four: The Appearance

XVII. There Were a Great Multitude Gathered - Soprano and Alto
XVIII. Behold My Beloved Son - Chorus
XIX. And They Cast Their Eyes Up Again Towards Heaven - Soprano
XX. And He Stretched Forth His Hand - Soprano
XXI. Behold, I Am Jesus Christ - Chorus
XXII. And the Whole Multitude - Soprano
XXIII. Arise and Come Forth Unto Me - Quartet and Chorus
XXIV. Hosanna! - Quartet and Chorus

Part Five: Blessings & Worship

XXV. Jesus Cast His Eyes Round About - Tenor
XXVI. The Eye Hath Never Seen - Children and Chorus
XXVII. And Jesus Arose - Alto
XXVIII. Behold Your Little Ones - Children
XXIX. They Cast Their Eyes Toward Heaven - Soprano and Chorus

Part Six: The Ascension

XXX. And There Came a Cloud - Soprano

Part Seven: Meditation & Postlude

XXXI. Verily, Verily, I Say Unto You - Bass
XXXII. Thy Watchmen Shall Lift Up The Voice - Quartet and Chorus
XXXIII. And the Holy One of Israel Must Reign - Chorus
XXXIV. Amen - Chorus