# We're all aware the Hallelujah chorus is an easter song, not a Chirstmas song, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 25, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128 "2005-12-25T01:58:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/1 "2005-12-25T01:58:44Z")
In spirit of the holiday, I’ve changed all f-bombs to ‘candycanes.’ Why are candycanin’ radio stations playing Handel’s Hallelujah chorus over and over all week? Is candycanin’ Clearchannel not aware that we’re celebrating Christ’s _birth_ tomorrow, not his resurrection? Why do so many candycanin’ people think this particular piece from Handel’s “Messiah” is about Christmas? It’s candycanin’ not. I think “For unto us a Child is Born” would be a bit more appropriate. Candycane-A. Oh, and Merry Christmas. Happy ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/2 "2005-12-25T02:33:34Z")
It makes more sense than the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Ninth, which inexplicably gets put on the Christmas playlist, even in churches. _It’s_ not even candycanin’ monotheistic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/3 "2005-12-25T02:54:58Z")
Give 'em some credit for knowing it has something to do with Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/4 "2005-12-25T02:58:55Z")
Maybe they’re playing it cause it’s so pretty? I mean, who doesn’t like the Hallelujah chorus? I’m a Jew, and I like the Hallelujah chorus. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/5 "2005-12-25T03:19:57Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Give 'em some credit for knowing it has something to do with Jesus. Who? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/6 "2005-12-25T03:30:27Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Who? Don’t get any day workers that far north, do ya? ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/7 "2005-12-25T03:43:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Hallelujah. 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 forever and ever. King of kings and lord of lords. Sounds like fairly generic Jesus-praising to me, not particularly about his birth or his resurrection, just his general being-the-son-of-God, no? What did I miss? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/8 "2005-12-25T03:56:16Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)#The_.22Hallelujah_Chorus.22) disagrees slightly with the OP: > [@](#): > > Although the text is devoted to resurrection and salvation, and the work was conceived and first performed for Easter, **it has become traditional since Handel’s death to perform the Messiah oratorio during Advent, the preparatory period of the Christmas season, rather than at Easter**. Christmas concerts often feature only the first section of Messiah plus the “Hallelujah” Chorus, although some ensembles like the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society, and New York’s Musica Sacra feature the entire work as a Christmas concert. Bolding mine. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/9 "2005-12-25T06:31:06Z")
While “The Hallelujah Chorus” may not be appropriate Christmas music, “See the Conquering Hero Come” from _Judas Maccabaeus_ is a terrific **Hannukah**. song. They should play _that_. There are even alternate Hebrew lyrics! ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/10 "2005-12-25T06:31:21Z")
Also there’s the section: _For unto us a child is born; Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor_, Almighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.\* That’s definitely a birthday song, yo. 🙂 - Anyone else ever tempted to sing “S’Wonderful … S’Marvelous!” at this point? Just me, huh? ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/11 "2005-12-25T13:56:25Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Who? So you’re the one. I have some Chick tracts I’d like to show you. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/12 "2005-12-25T16:02:41Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Also there’s the section: > > _For unto us a child is born; > Unto us a Son is given; > And the government will be on his shoulders. > And he will be called Wonderful Counselor_, > Almighty God, the everlasting Father, > The Prince of Peace.\* > > That’s definitely a birthday song, yo. 🙂 > > - Anyone else ever tempted to sing “S’Wonderful … S’Marvelous!” at this point? Just me, huh? Yeah, that’s not the Hallelujah chorus though. See, I’ve got no problem with “Messiah” per se, but radio stations that play the Hallelujah chorus as a Christmas song kinda irk me. “For Unto Us A Child is Born” is the more appropriate song from the “Messiah” for this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/13 "2005-12-25T21:07:25Z")
Sorry, friendly OP. As someone who has sung in choirs for years, I can tell you that the blasted Messiah is always performed at Christmas now. In Ottawa, the three major choirs used to rotate for the NAC yearly performance… … lovely music. Personally, I’m sick of it 😉 St. Matthew Passion, however, ne’er get tired of THAT one around Easter time… ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/14 "2005-12-25T22:12:26Z")
**Isaac Hayes:** Hallelujah! Hallelujah! **Happy Lendervedder and backup singers:** Shut yo’ mouf! **Isaac Hayes:** But I’m talkin’ 'bout Jesus! ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/15 "2005-12-26T03:47:43Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > In spirit of the holiday, I’ve changed all f-bombs to ‘candycanes.’ > Why are candycanin’ radio stations playing Handel’s Hallelujah chorus over and over all week? Is candycanin’ Clearchannel not aware that we’re celebrating Christ’s _birth_ tomorrow, not his resurrection? > > Why do so many candycanin’ people think this particular piece from Handel’s “Messiah” is about Christmas? It’s candycanin’ not. I think “For unto us a Child is Born” would be a bit more appropriate. > Candycane-A. > > Oh, and Merry Christmas. > > Happy My church choir did [this](http://www.worshipconnection.cokesbury.com/CokesburyPages.aspx?catalog=wc&ctid=229&pid=522682) piece as our cantata last week. The last song is called “The Wonder of it All”. It starts with “For unto us a child is born; Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” and finishes with the traditional _King of Kings - Hallelujah_ chorus. The congregation of 600 was on their feet and erupted in thunderous applause as the final note echoed and decayed into the night. Guess they didn’t realize how innapropriate they were being. What a bunch of rubes, huh? :rolleyes: It’s a great piece of music most people hear only a few times a year, and which is uplifting and helps them get into the spirit of the season. My guess is someone is not getting enough “Chirstmas” hugs. Lighten up and enjoy a great tune. Merry Christmas and happy 1,000th post to me! ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/16 "2005-12-26T04:01:51Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > Lighten up and enjoy a great tune. But maybe just a tad repetitive here and there? ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/17 "2005-12-26T05:51:39Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > So you’re the one. I have some Chick tracts I’d like to show you. I hope I didn’t wake anyone up by my laughing from this post. If so, it’s your fault. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/18 "2005-12-26T08:55:18Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Maybe they’re playing it cause it’s so pretty? I mean, who doesn’t like the Hallelujah chorus? I’m a Jew, and I like the Hallelujah chorus. I’m an atheist and I like the Hallelujah chorus too. I haven’t heard it for at least 20 years, so I guess I’ve been living under a rock. One of these years I should probably tune in to…where ever it is I would tune in to to hear it again. It is very pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/19 "2005-12-26T08:59:20Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > Yeah, that’s not the Hallelujah chorus though. See, I’ve got no problem with “Messiah” per se, but radio stations that play the Hallelujah chorus as a Christmas song kinda irk me. > > “For Unto Us A Child is Born” is the more appropriate song from the “Messiah” for this time of year. But since the Hallelujah Chorus is part of the Messiah, which obviously has strong ties to Christmas, why not? Was it normal practice for composers to create a work where parts were appropriate for a season while others weren’t? When would such works BE appropriate to perform in its entirety, in that case, since by your argument, playing the entire work during Easter would be equally inappropriate? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128/20 "2005-12-26T14:45:07Z")
I don’t listen to the Water Music while on a barge, either–but it’s still great music. Our church does a do it yourself Messiah every year–it’s great, if not exactly the Mormon Tabernacle! I think you’re fighting a losing battle on this one. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-aware-the-hallelujah-chorus-is-an-easter-song-not-a-chirstmas-song-right/337128.md?page=2)