Handel's Messiah Song List and Accompaniment Track Guide

Worship Music & Hymn Resources

By Spiritrax Content Studio · May 4, 2026

Updated May 13, 2026

Handel's Messiah is both familiar and demanding. Many people know the Hallelujah Chorus, but a choir director, soloist, worship leader, or event planner usually needs more than one famous movement. They need the song list, the order, rehearsal support, and dependable accompaniment that can carry recitatives, arias, choruses, and transitions.

Spiritrax's complete Messiah album is built for that practical work. It includes all 53 songs from the oratorio in downloadable MP3 backing tracks, with lead sheets included for the arias and recitative numbers. That makes it useful for full performances, selected worship-service excerpts, concert programs, seasonal services, and individual rehearsal.

Why the Messiah song list matters

Messiah is often planned in pieces. A church may use For Unto Us a Child Is Born during Advent. A choir may prepare Hallelujah Chorus for Easter. A soloist may need Comfort Ye, Every Valley, He Was Despised, or I Know That My Redeemer Liveth for a recital, worship service, or memorial event.

A clear song list helps you answer basic planning questions:

• Which movements are solos, recitatives, or choruses?
• Which keys and voice types need extra rehearsal time?
• Which selections can stand alone in a worship service?
• Which tracks are needed for a full program versus a single excerpt?
• Who needs practice files before the first group rehearsal?

Good planning prevents the common mistake of treating Messiah as one large piece when the actual rehearsal process depends on many smaller musical decisions.

Popular Messiah selections for worship and concerts

Different settings call for different movements. These are some of the most commonly planned selections:

• Comfort Ye and Every Valley for tenor solo preparation.
• And the Glory of the Lord for early chorus work.
• O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion for alto solo or ensemble use.
• For Unto Us a Child Is Born for Advent and Christmas programs.
• He Shall Feed His Flock for reflective worship moments.
• Behold the Lamb of God and Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs for Lent or Holy Week.
• Hallelujah Chorus for Easter, Christmas, concerts, and community sings.
• I Know That My Redeemer Liveth for Easter services, funerals, memorials, and recitals.
• Worthy Is the Lamb for larger choral conclusions.

The right selection depends on the room, singers, rehearsal time, and purpose of the service or concert.

Using accompaniment tracks for Messiah rehearsal

Messiah rehearsal benefits from consistency. Soloists need steady entrances. Choirs need a clear tempo and reliable harmonic support. Worship leaders need files that can be tested through the actual sound system before the service.

Use accompaniment tracks to support:

• Solo practice between lessons or rehearsals.
• Sectional rehearsal when a pianist is not available.
• Choir preparation before joining with instrumentalists or full ensemble.
• Worship-service excerpts where a complete orchestra is not practical.
• Concert programs that need dependable accompaniment for selected movements.

If a choir is rehearsing multiple movements, distribute the final track files early and label them clearly. Include movement number, title, key, and rehearsal notes in the file name or shared folder so singers are not guessing which version to use.

Planning a worship-service excerpt

Messiah can be powerful in worship when the excerpt is chosen for the service, not just for popularity. Start with the liturgical or pastoral purpose.

For Advent or Christmas, For Unto Us a Child Is Born, Comfort Ye, Every Valley, and Glory to God can support expectation, proclamation, and celebration. For Lent or Holy Week, Behold the Lamb of God, He Was Despised, and Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs create a more reflective arc. For Easter, Hallelujah Chorus and I Know That My Redeemer Liveth can bring proclamation and hope.

Keep transitions simple. If the movement follows a scripture reading, prayer, candle lighting, or spoken introduction, rehearse the exact start and stop points. A strong accompaniment track should support the moment without forcing the service to rush.

Full-album planning checklist

Before using Messiah accompaniment tracks in rehearsal or performance, confirm:

• The exact movements you need.
• Whether the event uses selected excerpts or the full album.
• Which soloists need practice tracks first.
• Whether the choir needs sectional rehearsal support.
• The playback device, backup device, and sound-system connection.
• The order of service or concert program.
• Any licensing, streaming, or venue-use questions for the event.
• Who is responsible for downloading, labeling, and storing the final files.

This is especially important for seasonal services. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter calendars fill quickly, and Messiah preparation often overlaps with other worship music.

What the complete Spiritrax Messiah album includes

The complete Spiritrax Messiah album includes all 53 songs from Handel's oratorio in 52 downloadable MP3 backing tracks. It is designed for performers who need practical accompaniment support rather than a physical CD.

The collection includes familiar selections such as Sinfony, Comfort Ye, Every Valley, And the Glory of the Lord, For Unto Us a Child Is Born, He Shall Feed His Flock, Hallelujah Chorus, I Know That My Redeemer Liveth, The Trumpet Shall Sound, and Worthy Is the Lamb.

Because the full album keeps the movements together, it works well for choirs, soloists, worship leaders, teachers, and concert planners who need one dependable source for Messiah preparation.

FAQ: Handel's Messiah accompaniment tracks

How many songs are in Handel's Messiah?

The Spiritrax complete Messiah album includes all 53 songs from the classic oratorio, delivered as 52 MP3 backing tracks.

Can I use individual Messiah movements for worship?

Yes. Many churches and worship leaders use selected Messiah movements for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, funerals, memorials, concerts, and special services.

Are lead sheets included?

Spiritrax notes that lead sheets are included for the arias and recitative numbers in the complete Messiah package.

Is Hallelujah Chorus included?

Yes. Hallelujah Chorus is included in the complete Messiah collection, along with the surrounding movements from the oratorio.

Is this a CD?

No. The complete Messiah package is a download. Spiritrax notes on the product page that this is downloads only, with CD delivery available by request at checkout.