UNFOLD, YE PORTALS

Music: Charles Gounod
Text: English trans. by Rev. John Troutbeck

Although now known primarily as an opera composer with a gift for dramatic music, the French composer Charles Gounod was prolific in many genres including symphonic works, piano solos, sacred songs and liturgical music. Gounod composed his three-part oratorio The Redemption in 1882, following the model (though not the musical style) of Handel’s Messiah. The oratorio was an immediate hit, and a favorite work at British choral festivals of the 19th century, with their massed choirs and large orchestras.

The grand, celebratory chorus “Unfold, Ye Portals” comes at the end of the oratorio’s second part, just as Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus” does in Messiah. In this performance, the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble provides additional drama to the chorus’s thrilling final fanfares.

Unfold, unfold, unfold,
Ye portals everlasting
Unfold, unfold, unfold,
Ye portals everlasting
With welcome to receive
Him ascending on high
Behold the King of Glory!
He mounts up through the sky,
Back to the heavenly mansions hasting.
Unfold, unfold, unfold,
For lo, the King comes nigh.

But Who is He, the King of Glory?
He Who Death overcame,
The Lord in battle mighty.
But Who is He, the King of Glory?
Of hosts He is the Lord;
Of angels and of powers:
The King of Glory is the King of the saints.

Unfold, unfold, unfold,
Ye portals everlasting,
Unfold, unfold, unfold,
Ye portals everlasting
With welcome to receive
Him ascending on high
Behold, the King of Glory!
He mounts up through the sky,
Back to the heavenly mansions lasting.
Unfold, unfold, unfold,
For lo, the King comes nigh.