George Frideric Handel - Newburgh Hamilton - Awake the trumpets lofty sound

"Awake the trumpets lofty sound" is a powerful chorus from George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Samson", HWV 57. Composed in 1743 with a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton based on John Milton's "Samson Agonistes", this celebratory chorus marks the Philistines' feast in honor of their god Dagon. Characteristic of Handel's grand Baroque style, it features brilliant trumpet fanfares, vigorous counterpoint, and festive orchestration that vividly depicts the scene's triumphant atmosphere before Samson's final act of destruction.