‘Messiah’: The Story Behind Handel’s Masterpiece

Udiscovermusic ^ | December 21, 2024 | Andrew Mellor

[nickcarraway]

Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 / Pt. 2: XLII. "Hallelujah"

[SunkenCiv]

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 "Random Acts of Culture" to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years.

Opera Company of Philadelphia "Hallelujah!" Random Act of Culture | 5:58
Opera Philadelphia | 11.3K subscribers | 9,638,168 views | November 1, 2010

[freepertoo]

One of my very first dates was to see Messiah at Wolf Trap in Maryland. I will never, ever forget the awe of it, and I, too, had tears in my eyes when everyone stood up at the Hallelujah Chorus.

[kosciusko51]

BFL

[556x45]

Handel wrote the music but Charles Jennings wrote the words.

[SunkenCiv]

An early `80's performance by The Roches of the Handel classic.

"The Hallelujah Chorus" performed by The Roches | 3:41
boomer647 | 1K subscribers | 111,436 views | January 4, 2017

[Romulus]

Jennings would be the first to say that selected them; he certainly didn’t write them.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Thanks for posting this. One of the most inspiring musical works of all time.

[nickcarraway]

YW. Yes, it is.

[Track9]

Love it! Thanks

[healy61]

In 9th grade (1966) we had a Christmas assembly just before break. Several Christmas songs were sung ending with a recording of the Hallelujah Chorus. Mrs. Trebilcock, very proper in her own person, stood alone for the chorus. All the students caught on immediately and stood. Our choir performed it in our senior year with help of many college music majors. I can still sing my part.

[BenLurkin]

Q. Do you know why everyone stands for the Hallelujah Chorus?

A. They’re digging for their car keys.

[mairdie]

Stained Glass - Hallelujah Chorus - Congregational Stained Glass Windows - Handel
https://youtu.be/RRmDO-qt8z4

Castle - Hallelujah Chorus - Handel
https://youtu.be/BGSRhkHpmZ8

[mairdie]

>>I can still sing my part.

Me, too. Always infinitely grateful to be a soprano and not have to do harmony. So impressed by the rest of the voice parts. Actually awestruck.

[chajin]

The First Great Awakening ruined the taste for over the top opera, which is what Handel excelled at. Like Rembrandt when the tulip bulb mania crashed 100 years earlier, Handel suddenly found himself with a pile of operas with no place to sell them, and lots of bills with no one to pay them. So he switched to oratorios which he could sell to all the awakened believers, sometimes using music from his operas--which wasn't stealing, because they were his operas--and he got his bills paid and pleased God simultaneously.

As a mid-level musicologist, I have heard the Hallelujah Chorus a thousand times, and I recognize its greatness, but it's lost its sheen for me. It is the finale, Worthy is the Lamb, that brings me to tears of love for my Lord.

[freepertoo]

What a wonderful memory.

[daniel1212]

A gospel message production exemplar. Glory to God in the highest.

[duckbutt]

In 9th grade (1966) we had a Christmas assembly just before break. Several Christmas songs were sung ending with a recording of the Hallelujah Chorus.

---

same for me —only I was a sophmore in HS and won a spot in the choir. Mr. Byers was the choir director. An absolute dictator who had more than one student crying. But we performed beyond our expectations. We started practicing Messiah in the summer before starting school and sang it at a special Christmas assembly for the students during the day and sang it two nights for the local community. What a rush! Yes, I always stop and listen when I hear it and when I see these “flash mobs” on videos, I sing along at the top of my lungs to the annoyance of my hubby. I don’t sing as much now and voice is rusty :-)

But....truly, truly a God-inspired piece of music. Near perfection.

[Arlis]

One piece of music we now sing on earth that I think we will be singing forever!

[Does so]

“It is the finale...”
.
.
For me, it’s,

“I know my Saviour liveth”.