The Hallelujah Chorus

On Easter Sunday, our St. Barnabas choir sings the Hallelujah chorus at the end of the 11 a.m. service. This glorious music was composed by George Frederic Handel (1685- 1759), a Baroque era composer and organist. Handel was born in Halle, Germany. Handel’s 'Messiah,' is one of the most famous oratorios in history. It was written in just 24 days in 1741. The performance of the entire work takes about three hours. The final movement of the first half of the 3-hour oratorio, ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus, is one of the most well-known vocal pieces ever written. Handel was consumed with the process. When he completed “Hallelujah,” he reportedly told his servant, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”

The text for the “Hallelujah Chorus” comes from the Revelation to St. John in the New Testament.

“Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19:6)

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” (Revelation 19:16)

“And he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

The tradition of standing during Hallelujah Chorus was said to have begun in 1743, when King George II rose from his seat, greatly moved by the beauty of the music. Another view on the tradition is that at about an hour and a half into the oratorio he was getting tingling in his legs and needed to stand. Either way, protocol dictated that when the King stood everyone else did as well. Now the centuries old tradition of standing during the performance of Hallelujah Chorus is followed out of tradition and respect for this glorious piece of music.