What is the story behind the Hallelujah Chorus?
An often repeated legend about Messiah tells the story of King George II who was so moved by the “Hallelujah” chorus during the London premiere of Messiah that he rose to his feet and then everyone in attendance followed suit as not to be sitting when the king stood.
Who composed the Hallelujah Chorus?
George Frideric HandelMessiah, HWV 56 / ComposerGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Wikipedia
What is the story of Handel’s Messiah?
Other Handel oratorios had strong plots anchored by dramatic confrontations between leading characters. But Messiah offered the loosest of narratives: the first part prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ; the second exalted his sacrifice for humankind; and the final section heralded his Resurrection.
Who was Handel’s Messiah written for?
In 1735 Handel received the text for a new oratorio named Saul from its librettist Charles Jennens, a wealthy landowner with musical and literary interests. Because Handel’s main creative concern was still with opera, he did not write the music for Saul until 1738, in preparation for his 1738–39 theatrical season.
What is George Handel’s most famous piece?
Messiah
George Frideric Handel, a German-born English composer of the late Baroque era, was known particularly for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. He wrote the most famous of all oratorios, Messiah (1741).
Why is Handel’s Messiah so popular?
Drawing from the Old and New Testaments, Handel designed it in three sweeping sections: Prophecy and Fulfillment, Suffering, and Redemption. Although religious, its message remains universal, and Handel intended it for the concert hall. Its theatricality is another reason for its popularity.
Who commissioned Handel’s Messiah?
In 1735, during Lent alone, Handel produced more than 14 concerts made up primarily of oratorios. In 1741 Dublin’s Lord Lieutenant commissioned Handel to write a new oratorio based on a biblical libretto assembled by art patron Charles Jennens.
Why is Handel’s Messiah important?
Together, the music and subject of Handel’s “Messiah” reach the sublime status of great art that speaks to “what is permanent in the human soul,” as the 19th-century poet and cultural critic Matthew Arnold wrote. No wonder we love to hear it at Christmas, the time of year that calls us back to the permanent things.
Where does the song Hallelujah come from in the Bible?
Text for “Hallelujah” comes from the book of Revelation in the New Testament. Revelation 19:6: “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Revelation 19:16: “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”
Where can I watch the world’s largest Hallelujah Chorus?
Watch the world’s largest virtual “Hallelujah” chorus. Over 2,500 singers virtually join The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for an epic collaboration for the ages. Look for recognizable faces such as Donny Osmond, Peter Hollens , Alex Boyé, and more.
When did Handel write Zadok the priest?
Handel – Zadok the Priest. The most famous of Handel’s coronation anthems was composed for King George II of England in 1727 and has been performed at every coronation since then. Handel composed his four coronation anthems between September and October 1727, producing some of the most spine-tingling choral music of the Baroque period.
Did Jesus see all heaven before him in Hallelujah?
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.” Although the first performance in Dublin on April 13, 1742, was a huge success, Messiah wasn’t met with the same excitement in London the following season.