Happy Easter everyone.

Handel claimed that his inspiration for the Hallelujah Chorus was a vision of God sitting on his Throne in Heaven while writing it -- he envisioned it as a whole piece and just filled in the parts.

From a musical standpoint, the fugal section (a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a theme and repeated at different pitches - "King of Kings, Lord of Lords") of the chorus drives most of the strong emotional feelings experienced during it's performance.

 Another legend surrounds this particular section in that the first time it was presented the sopranos refused to sing the piece as it is seemingly impossible to perform. They were talked into at least trying to sing it and as legend has it, were inspired to reach "higher in praise".

Thx to Tom Francis for the history.

Via Maggie's Farm and American Digest.