Candlelight Processional, Hallelujah Chorus request

[TheHulamuffins]

Last year, at the Candlelight Processional, we were seriously troubled by the decision to convert the Hallelujah Chorus into a "medley" with elements of the Hallelujah Chorus interspersed with other Christmas music. It is customary to stand for the Hallelujah Chorus. Some trace this to the claim that King George II stood at its first performance in 1743. In any event, our group was bobbing up and down as segments of the Hallelujah Chorus were played and interrupted. We talked to two of the orchestra members after the Candlelight Processional, and they were also troubled by this change. I hope that it will not be repeated this year.

If people are attending the Candlelight Processional, they are surely aware that they are going to hear Christmas music. Therefore, the decision to skip over "And He shall reign forever and ever" and replace it with other Christmas music seems odd to me. As I recall, that is one of the segments that was skipped.

My first preference would be to have the entire Hallelujah Chorus played at the end of the Processional. My second preference would be to eliminate it all together, rather than having it broken up, with parts omitted.

 

[fla4fun]

Last year, at the Candlelight Processional, we were seriously troubled by the decision to convert the Hallelujah Chorus into a "medley" with elements of the Hallelujah Chorus interspersed with other Christmas music. It is customary to stand for the Hallelujah Chorus. Some trace this to the claim that King George II stood at its first performance in 1743. In any event, our group was bobbing up and down as segments of the Hallelujah Chorus were played and interrupted. We talked to two of the orchestra members after the Candlelight Processional, and they were also troubled by this change. I hope that it will not be repeated this year.

If people are attending the Candlelight Processional, they are surely aware that they are going to hear Christmas music. Therefore, the decision to skip over "And He shall reign forever and ever" and replace it with other Christmas music seems odd to me. As I recall, that is one of the segments that was skipped.

My first preference would be to have the entire Hallelujah Chorus played at the end of the Processional. My second preference would be to eliminate it all together, rather than having it broken up, with parts omitted.

I did not see it last year (our trip was too early) but agree with your preferences if that is the way they altered the program. Either perform it in full, or remove it entirely. Don’t disrespect the composer and make a mockery of the music by cutting it into pieces and inserting other Christmas songs into it. The words sung in the Hallelujah Chorus are no more religious than the reading of the Nativity story, so there is no reason to edit the Chorus.

I know that the songs in the CP are for the most part not sung in their entirety. It may be one verse out of many. That is another reason why I feel each song should be respected. It used to be that they would sing the Chorus, then have a few words from the narrator, then a medley of holiday songs as you left the theater. That format seems more appropriate to me.

I understand that people of all faiths visit Disney, and I would enjoy it if multiple faiths were represented during their holidays throughout the year. I would feel the same way though if it were a musical piece pertaining to another faith, especially if the cut music was more religious and the inserted music more secular. If a person does not want to listen, they are not forced to. You really can’t hear the words clearly (spoken or sung) unless you are in or standing around the theater.

I have the CP on a CD, so I will have the ability to hear it as it should be. They didn’t need to fix a problem that didn’t exist.

 

[scrappinginontario]

That would be disappointing! Some pieces of music are not to be messed with!

 

[philharmagic fan]

I'd like them to eliminate it completely and replace it. If you ever listen to Handel's "Messiah" in its entirety, you will realize that the Hallelujah Chorus is actually for EASTER. The Christmas section features another chorus, "For Unto Us a Child Is Born', which in my opinion is far superior to Hallelujah Chorus. I have no idea why Hallelujah Chorus is so often played at Christmas, other than the fact that it's the only part of Messiah that most people are familiar with.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I'd like them to eliminate it completely and replace it. If you ever listen to Handel's "Messiah" in its entirety, you will realize that the Hallelujah Chorus is actually for EASTER. The Christmas section features another chorus, "For Unto Us a Child Is Born', which in my opinion is far superior to Hallelujah Chorus. I have no idea why Hallelujah Chorus is so often played at Christmas, other than the fact that it's the only part of Messiah that most people are familiar with.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Until I saw the Candlelight Processional I had honestly only ever heard the Hallelujah Chorus at our Easter church service. I was so confused that it was played at a Christmas event. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks of it as an Easter song. But in general it is fine with me if it is in the Candlelight Procession and also fine if it isn't. As long as they don't remove "Shout for Joy" or "Rejoice with Exceeding Great Joy".

 

[Marthasor]

I'd like them to eliminate it completely and replace it. If you ever listen to Handel's "Messiah" in its entirety, you will realize that the Hallelujah Chorus is actually for EASTER. The Christmas section features another chorus, "For Unto Us a Child Is Born', which in my opinion is far superior to Hallelujah Chorus. I have no idea why Hallelujah Chorus is so often played at Christmas, other than the fact that it's the only part of Messiah that most people are familiar with.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

^^^This. The Messiah debuted in April 1742 for the Easter season and the Hallelujah chorus proclaims Christ's Resurrection. It is definitely not Christmas music.

 

[TheHulamuffins]

philharmagic fan, arjwdwgirl, and Marthasor have all make the point that the Hallelujah Chorus is really Easter music, which is certainly true. So, I really should not have referred to it as Chirstmas music. I would not be surprised if Walt Disney himself wanted to have it in the Christmas Processional, because as I understand it, he came up with the idea.

I like the idea of replacing it with "For Unto Us a Child is Born." The world is sorely in need of the Prince of Peace.

 

[sixcats]

I still have not gotten over them removing One Solitary Life.

 

[TheHulamuffins]

Last year, at the Candlelight Processional, we were seriously troubled by the decision to convert the Hallelujah Chorus into a "medley" with elements of the Hallelujah Chorus interspersed with other Christmas music. It is customary to stand for the Hallelujah Chorus. Some trace this to the claim that King George II stood at its first performance in 1743. In any event, our group was bobbing up and down as segments of the Hallelujah Chorus were played and interrupted. We talked to two of the orchestra members after the Candlelight Processional, and they were also troubled by this change. I hope that it will not be repeated this year.

If people are attending the Candlelight Processional, they are surely aware that they are going to hear Christmas music. Therefore, the decision to skip over "And He shall reign forever and ever" and replace it with other Christmas music seems odd to me. As I recall, that is one of the segments that was skipped.

My first preference would be to have the entire Hallelujah Chorus played at the end of the Processional. My second preference would be to eliminate it all together, rather than having it broken up, with parts omitted.

I was delighted this year when my family attended the Candlelight Processional, and the Hallelujah Chorus was performed in its entirety, and not as a medley. We were there for the last evening of the Candlelight Processional, December 30. From the program listing for the processional, I believe that this was the case for all of its performances this year.

I cannot adequately express my very deep gratitude to the people who made this decision. It was very heartening to my entire family.

This year, we sat toward the back of the theater. We stood up for the Hallelujah Chorus, and virtually all of the people ahead of us (the ones that we could see) stood up also. This was quite different from last year. Last year, we sat closer to the stage. I could not tell whether the entire audience (mostly) stood up this year, or just the audience members for several rows in front of us.

Finally, I realize that the Hallelujah Chorus is Easter music and not Christmas music. Still, in my opinion it is suitable for the birth of the Prince of Peace.