Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)

G. F. HandelHWV 56

Key

D

Time

4/4

Tempo

♩=100

AO focus

AO3

Form

Chorus from Part II of Messiah. Homophonic 'Hallelujah' acclamations alternate with imitative settings of the text. Closes Part II with overwhelming D-major affirmation.

Teaching points

• Homophonic 'Hallelujah' acclamations — all four voices on the same rhythm
• Text painting: 'King of Kings' rises through the soprano line; lower voices answer 'for ever and ever'
• Tonal plan: D major throughout, with brief excursions to A (V) and B minor (vi)
• AO1 connection: this is the canonical 'audience stands' moment — discuss performance practice and tradition