More lyrics from yet another source

I sing in the local community chorus; we have done an great variety of choral music some of which takes no back-seat for the power of the lyrics and their musical settings.
Recently we sang Handel's Messiah which includes lyrics like:

All we like sheep have gone astray
We have turned, everyone in his own way

The setting of the music suits the words so well, turning and going astray as expressed by the lyrics.
Then the music and mood takes a brilliantly abrupt turn to serious majestic measured contemplation:

And the Lord hath laid on him
the iniquity of us all

One of the best ways I know of to learn and appreciate music like this is to sing it with a chorus; it is so much more fufilling to be a part of the complex polyphony that to experience it from the outside. If you've never tried but have an interest in music/singing you must try this!
It would be interesting to search out other music that changes pace so dramatically and effectively.