Halleluia

They say that three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and December performances of Handel’s Messiah. The last in that list is a Christmas addition to lighten the sentiment. But it also seems to be true. The world’s most famous oratorio appears every holiday season, with hundreds if not thousands of productions by professional and amateur groups around the world. Messiah has been going strong for 275 years and remains one of the most performed works in the classical repertoire. Lenape Valley Church hosted one such ‘sing-along’ on Saturday night with an orchestra and featured vocalists to lead a packed sanctuary of community members in song. When they stood for the Halleluia Chorus it raised the roof!

Handel’s Messiah is based on sacred texts from the Old and New Testaments to declare the identity of the One we call the Messiah. Handel wrote the text and score at a low point in his composing career, after two of his Italian operas failed to gain an audience. Near poverty, he dedicated himself to this new project, writing the composition in just 24 days. Handel chose to compose his new work in English rather than the traditional German or Italian, thus appealing to the middle class of the British Isles and then finding popularity in America. The story is told that King George II attended the debut performance of the Messiah in 1743. After nearly two and a half hours of sweeping orchestration, the final movement began. As the strains of the Halleluia Chorus filled the concert hall, the king rose from his seat, enthralled by the beauty of the music. In some renditions of the story, King George stood to honor the King of kings. Then, not wanting to offend the king, the audience stood… or so the story goes. Some historians would say that this story is just a myth, but it is a rather compelling myth, as today most audiences stand at the singing of the Halleluia Chorus. But one has to wonder, are they standing to honor the King of kings, or the story of an English king, or just out of tradition to honor an extraordinary composition?

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the North Penn High School winter concert, featuring their 240-member chorus, along with their orchestra and symphonic orchestra. North Penn High School has one of the strongest music and drama programs in the state, thus the performance was stunning in its quality. When the chorus and symphonic orchestra combined for the final piece, over 400 student musicians added to the music that filled the auditorium. By tradition, North Penn High School concludes their winter concert with the Halleluia Chorus. Before the music began, an invitation went out to the audience, that any alumni or community member who wanted to share in singing that work was welcome to come forward. Many in the audience were ready for the invitation that comes every year. They moved into their respective sections- soprano, alto, tenor, bass. Then the music began with the powerful first word- Halleluia. It sent chills up my spine. Again, and again the declaration- Halleluia. In Hebrew, hallelujah means Praise God. I must admit, I was surprised to hear Praise God ringing out with beauty and strength at a public high school concert. But then I began to wonder if the throng of performers were aware of the gravity of their declaration. 

Halleluia…For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world is become
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ,
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords.
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
for ever and ever.
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Halleluia!

When our oldest was in college, he sang with Penn State’s gospel choir- Essence of Joy. I remember overhearing the conductor as he prepared his group for a performance. He said to the singers, “You may not believe what we are singing, but this music is going to catch you!” As I watched my granddaughter (my son’s daughter) joyfully singing the lines of the Halleluia Chorus, I began to pray that the text would move and shape her heart, that she would not joy in a beautiful piece of music, but rather in the One declared in those words.

That’s my prayer for our gathering on Wednesday night. When candlelight sets the scene and the strains of Silent Night fill our sanctuary, may those who gather be caught by the truth of the words they sing:

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light…
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth…
Christ the Savior is born

Join me in this prayer: “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) May Wednesday night not just be a heart-warming tradition, but a heart-changing moment that invites all who are gathered into a living, breathing relationship with the Savior of the World.

With you in joyful expectant prayer,
Anita