Choral (SATB)
SKU:
HL.14041792
SATB
with Organ, New
Engraving. By
Jonathan Wikeley. By
George Frideric Handel.
Edited by Shaw. Choral.
Classical. Softcover. 16
pages. Hal Leonard
#NOV292325. Published by
Hal Leonard
(HL.14041792).
ISBN
9781780382180. UPC:
884088658663.
6.75x9.75x0.05
inches.
The
'Hallelujah' Chorus,
arguably the most famous
choral work of the
western classical
tradition, is the closing
number of the second part
of Handel's
Messiah.
Such is the strength of
Handel's word setting
that this empathic,
triumphal paean retains
its appeal in spite of
the cultural overexposure
and controversy to which
it has been subjected,
remaining a firm
favourite with
choirs.
The
premiere of
Messiah was in
Dublin in 1742 as the
high point of a full
season of Handel's work.
It was a charity event,
held in aid of local
causes, and in order to
get the maximum
attendance at Neale's new
music hall in Fishamble
Street, men were asked to
removetheir swords, and
ladies the hoops in their
dresses.
The
tradition of standing
during performances of
the 'Hallelujah' Chorus,
still indulged at some
performances in Britains,
is said to have been
started by King George II
at the work's opening run
in London in 1743.
Jonathan Wikeley
