the streams
and valleys. At last the suffering is voiced in the opening chorus
("Help, Lord"), which, after three passionate appeals, moves along in
plaintive beauty, developing phrase after phrase of touching appeal, and
leading to a second chorus, with duet for two sopranos ("Lord, bow Thine
Ear to our Prayer"), the choral part of which is an old Jewish chant,
sung alternately by the male and female voices in unison. It is followed
by Obadiah's lovely tenor aria, "If with all your Hearts," full of
tenderness and consolation. Again the People break out into a chorus of
lamentation ("Yet doth the Lord see it not"), which at the close develops
into a chorale of graceful and serene beauty ("For He the Lord our God").
Then follows the voice of an Angel summoning Elijah to the brook of
Cherith, leading to the beautiful double quartet, "For He shall give His
Angels Charge over thee," the melody of which is simple, but full of
animation, and worked up with a skilful effect. Again the Angel summons
Elijah to go to the Widow's house at Zarephath. The dramatic scene of the
raising of her son ensues, comprising a passionate song by the mother
("What have I to do with thee?") and the noble declaration of the
prophet, "Give me thy Son," and closing with the reflective chorus,
"Blessed are the Men who fear Him."

In the next scene we have the appearance of Elijah before Ahab, and the
challenge of the Priests of Baal to the sacrifice on Mount Carmel, set
forth in vigorous recitative, accompanied by short choral outbursts. At
the words of Elijah, "Invoke your forest gods and mountain deities," the
Priests of Baal break out into the stirring double-chorus, "Baal, we cry
to thee," which is fairly sensual and heathenish in its rugged, abrupt
melodies, as compared with the Christian music. At its close Elijah bids
them "call him louder, for he is a god; he talketh, or he is pursuing."
Again they break out into a chorus of barbaric energy ("Hear our Cry, O
Baal"), in the intervals of which Elijah taunts them again and again with
the appeal, "Call him louder." The Priests renew their shouts, each time
with increasing force, "pausing in vain for the reply, and closing with a
rapid, almost angry expostulation ("Hear and answer"). Then follows the
calm, dignified prayer of the prophet ("Lord God of Abraham"), succeeded
by a simple, but beautiful chorale ("Cast thy Burden upon the Lord"). It
is the moment of quiet before the storm which is to c