The Hallelujah Chorus

[DisneyCP2002]

As I was posting on the Christmas concerts thread it got me to wondering. How many of us honor the tradition of standing when we hear the Hallelujah Chorus? Are there some out there that don't even know about the tradition? I have always heard the chant "Thou shalt not sit during the Hallelujah Chorus"

 

[Fitswimmer]

We do!!! We ALWAYS stand at the Candlelight Processional and most of the crowd does too. Either they know the tradition or they stand up because everyone else does!

 

[Linzybrooke]

I find that most people don't know its a tradition and therefore think the rest of us are crazy.

So, to let them all in on the secret here we go:

Lore and tradition of ‘Messiah’
By Renee Davis
Chronicle Staff Writer



When a piece of music is performed the world over every year for more than 250 years, it’s bound to develop its own lore and traditions. Even so, Handel’s “Messiah” seems to have more stories attached to it than most pieces of classical music.

Probably the most interesting tradition about the “Messiah” is that the audience stands during the “Hallelujah” chorus. Tradition has it that when King George II heard the piece he was so moved he stood up, and royal etiquette dictated that everyone else had to stand also. In some versions, George supposedly stood because he wanted to stretch his legs. Maybe this pragmatic reason is why the tradition has survived.

The “Messiah” has also had a number of variations on how it has been performed. Handel himself supposedly created several arrangements. And Mozart’s arrangement of the piece was popular during a previous century. Today, gospel versions are also popular. Rumors are circulating that Monty Python is even planning to have a go at it.

Even Handel had a story about the piece. He composed the work in 24 days, which was considered quick. He said he often went with little sleep and food during this time. After completing the piece, he fell asleep and had a vision of angels.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

Thank you so much for sharing this information. I had it saved a long time ago but I could never find it.

 

[hentob]

We stand!

 

[Stitchfans]

I always stand. I love the Hallelujah! It brings tears to my eyes. It isn't Christmas until I have heard it.

 

[Fairy Dust]

I wondered why everyone got up at the Candlelight Processional. We stood up to be polite but had no idea why!

 

[parrothead365]

"He (Christ)shall reign for ever and ever" You bet I'm standing for that

 

[TheGirlin14G]

I stand ^_^

We sing it at the end of our Winter Concert every year at my high school.. I actually got to conduct this year! That was cool.. anyway - my director always tells the tradition right before we sing it(both sides - the King beings so moved or that he just felt like moving around) and everyone stands.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Perhaps the better poll should be "Who knows that Handel's Messiah is a composition for Easter?"

Does anyone really know any of the music beyond the Hallelujah Chorus?

 

[Feralpeg]

Perhaps the better poll should be "Who knows that Handel's Messiah is a composition for Easter?"

Does anyone really know any of the music beyond the Hallelujah Chorus?

Yes. I've sung during a performance of The Messiah.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Our church just held the annual Messiah sing and we def all stood for the Halleluiah Chorus.

 

[Saphire]

I have never heard the Hallelujah Chorus performed live, and never heard of this tradition. However, this is one of my favorite pieces of music, and the thought of people standing during this powerful masterpiece gives me chills. Thanks for sharing that info!

 

[VioltePrincess]

my dd's sang it with their high school chorus for the concert last night, but we did not stand. we did give a standing ovation afterwards, though.

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

We always stand. The Messiah is one of the loveliest composition's ever.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

I have sung over half of Handel's work "The Messiah", that is including the parts past what is traditionally sung.

 

[Poohnatic]

Perhaps the better poll should be "Who knows that Handel's Messiah is a composition for Easter?"

Does anyone really know any of the music beyond the Hallelujah Chorus?

My high school choir always did the Hallelujah Chorus as part of our winter concert, but we also did a couple other different choruses in either the winter or spring concerts. As a result, I performed all but two of the choruses of the Messiah in my five years with our own "Mr. Holland". My favorite (more so than the Hallelujah) is Surely, He Hath Borne our Griefs. The year I graduated, I ended up buying my own score for going to the various Messiah Sing Ins.

Alas, with a retail management schedule, it always slips my mind until December 10th-and I end up missing the performance.

To answer a previous poster, I understood it that part I pertained to Christ's birth and part two to his death and Resurrection. So, while it does contain elements of Easter, it does celebrate his birth.

Suzanne

 

[Beca]

My dh knew this...I did not.

I did know that you cannot sing songs that have the word "Hallelujah" during Lent....but, I didn't know about this.....guess I have been "under a rock".

 

[azgal81]

Um no.

 

[AuntieM03]

Yes I stand-when I was in high school I didn't know of the tradition. I was in a choir that sang it and my best friend and I were so excited because we thought we were so great that they were giving us a standing ovation