# Hallelujah Chorus **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941 "2000-12-04T14:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhetoric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rhetoric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhetoric)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/1 "2000-12-04T14:33:23Z")
I have heard and read more theories than I can count regarding why the audience stands during the performance of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah. The common denominator seems to be that during The Messiah’s performance in London, King George II rose to his feet during this piece. I’ve heard more reasons for this than I can remember. I’ve heard that he was so moved by the powerful piece that he felt compelled to rise in respect and admiration. (This is what I prefer to believe) I’ve also heard that he had hemorrhoids, he had to go to the restroom, he had the gout, and he was tired of sitting and so stood to stretch his legs. Where and why did this wonderful tradition begin?! ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/2 "2000-12-04T15:06:37Z")
The alleluiah or “profession of faith” is a part of the (roman)christian service where you profess that there is only one god and he’s a great guy etc. As it’s the bit where you re-affirm your faith, you stand up when you’re saying it. (have you ever seen someone sit down when they were taking an oath) The Chorous is a sung version of this so you stand. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/3 "2000-12-04T18:14:44Z")
To hit the high notes better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/4 "2000-12-04T19:15:47Z")
Of course, **Pergau** ’s theory totally fails to take into account the fact that George II wasn’t Roman Catholic. Further, there is no such thing in the Roman Catholic or Anglican services as the ‘alleluia’. “Alleluia” (or, as it is sometimes written, Hallelujah) is an attempt at a Hebrew phrase meaning “praise (ye) the Lord”. (See, for example, the definition at [Merriam-Webster Online](http://www.m-w.com). It is added during certain times of the year to various responses by the communitants (for example, during the period Easter to Pentecost, an Anglican service will add ‘Alleluia’ to the ‘Sentences of Scripture’. Many will remember the hymn “Christ our Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia” with its long, lyrical musical phrasing of ‘alleluia.’ The “Profession of Faith” is the “Credo”, which is nothing like the phrase ‘alleluia’. “I believe in one God, …” is indeed said standing, but had nothing to do with King George’s vertical position during the Handel Messiah Hallelujah Chorus. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/5 "2000-12-04T19:52:20Z")
My 89-year old mother tried to stand during the Hallelujah Chorus, but she couldn’t **handel** it. ---
**Author:** ![barstow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90db22/32.png) [@barstow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barstow)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/6 "2000-12-04T20:01:05Z")
And what tradition is connected with Verdi’s Anvil Chorus? ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/7 "2000-12-04T20:43:02Z")
Earplugs, if the anvils aren’t in tune. Not a pretty sound. (And I stay seated during the “Hallelujuh Chorus”. I don’t stand up in the middle of “Carmina Burana” or any other piece, I don’t see any reason to stand for the “HC”. Unless I am in the chorus, of course, but that’s a different thing.) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/8 "2000-12-04T21:31:06Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by DSYoungEsq \* > Further, there is no such thing in the Roman Catholic or Anglican services as the ‘alleluia’. It is added during certain times of the year to various responses by the communitants (for example, during the period Easter to Pentecost, an Anglican service will add ‘Alleluia’ to the ‘Sentences of Scripture’. Many will remember the hymn “Christ our Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia” with its long, lyrical musical phrasing of ‘alleluia.’_\* The alleluia is always said before the reading of the gospel in Roman Catholic Mass. It is sung, a Scripture phrase is read, and it is sung again. It used to be that the “alleluia” could be spoken, but now as a rule it must be sung or omitted. The reason Easter songs are so full of Alleluias is it is not said during the forty days of Lent so it’s really emphasized when it can finally be said in honor of the resurrection. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/9 "2000-12-05T01:07:07Z")
> [@](#): > > My 89-year old mother tried to stand during the Hallelujah Chorus, but she couldn’t handel it. Oh-my-God. That was just cruel. I am ashamed at myself for laughing so hard. Zette ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/10 "2000-12-05T10:25:53Z")
Thanks DSY, It was bugging me all night I mixed the credo up with the alleluia, but then it’s a long time since I was in a church. It is however part of the roman catholic service. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/11 "2000-12-05T10:52:07Z")
According to _The Complete Book of Classical Music_ (David Ewen, ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1965. p. 143.), on March 23, 1743, Handel’s _Messiah_ received its London premiere. Present at the premiere was King George II, who was so moved at the “Hallelujah Chorus” that he involuntarily rose to his feet. The audience rose as well, and thus began the custom of standing during the performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus.” ---
**Author:** ![johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/12 "2000-12-06T04:32:53Z")
I attended a performance of the _Messiah_ in Scotland with a young Spanish lass some time ago. Of course, everyone including myself arose for the Hallelujah Chorus. She did so, reluctantly, and whispered to me “Why are we standing?” I responded with the standard answer, whereupon she promptly sat down. She didn’t see how any tradition started by a British king was any concern of hers. In retrospect, she really was a…nevermind. Is this tradition generally followed in other places? Italy, Germany, Japan? Spain? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/13 "2000-12-06T06:40:28Z")
To be technical, at all Catholic Masses, there is something called the “Gospel Acclamation”, which is sung or recited right before the celebrant reads the Gospel. Most of the year, “Alleluia” is some form is song or said. In Lent, a different phrase is used. During Easter time, “Alleluia” is added to many other parts of the Mass. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hallelujah-chorus/43941/14 "2000-12-06T13:19:35Z")
I usually **don’t** stand for the HC (unless I’m singing it, of course). The downsides of this are that 1) you end up staring at the butt of the person in front of you (well, I suppose that could be a good thing too); and 2) people tend to look at you as if you’ve belched in church or committed some other form of blasphemy. It’s a _stupid tradition_, people! Incidentally, I heard a performance of Handel’s Foundling Hospital Anthem last year (Handel was a big patron of the Foundling Hospital in London, and even gave a benefit performance of the Messiah for the FH). Anyway, in true Handelian style he had recycled music from elsewhere including – you guessed it – the entire Hallelujah Chorus, words and all. People didn’t know whether to stand up or not; it was most amusing. jr8 “The truth is that it does not require a graduate degree in musicology or art history to appreciate what they call great art. What it does require is equal parts of modesty and vulnerability, and a preference for the small truth over the big lie.” –Robert Shaw