#46 DO WE STAND OR NOT STAND

#46 DO WE STAND OR NOT STAND

FOR THE “HALLELUJAH” CHORUS?

BY

Vernon M. Herron

Christmas has come and gone. Yet there lingers a haunting question which needs addressing. More than 250 years ago, George Frederick Handel developed an oratorio called the “Messiah” of which the “Hallelujah Chorus” was its ending and climax. When that chorus is sung, even today, generally the audience will stand. WHY? Let us explore this question to see if we can arrive at a historic truth.



For 82 years, I have heard the Hallelujah Chorus. When I was 12 years of age, I first heard this famous piece of work rendered by the community and combined choirs of the renowned Ebenezer Baptist Church of Charlotte, NC under the direction of the late Hazel L. Miller. The thing that startled me was that everybody stood when the first few measures of the chorus started. Now at 82, on Christmas Sunday, I heard this famous rendition again as sung by the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church choir of Charlotte. Again everybody stood. Having a “standing endurance” problem, I remained seated until I heard the last syllable of the last word “hal-le-lu-jah.”



From my youth , I wanted to know, why stand when George Fredrick Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus of the “Messiah” is rendered? Here are my conclusions:

Some stand out of ignorance; they don’t know why. Others are doing so, now one follows.



Some stand out of respect for its musical, biblical and theological significance. The music contains movements, crescendos, repeats and keys which intrigues musical knowledge and grips the soul. Theologically, the chorus is comforting, affirming and prophetic. One only has to read the text as to be caught up in a state of spiritual ecstasy: Note the text of the chorus and the theological implications.



Hallelujah!!!

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Rev. 19:6)

The kingdoms of this world are become

The kingdoms of our Lord

And of his Christ.

And He shall reign forever and ever. (Rev. 11:15)

King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev. 14:16)

Hallelujah!!



Then some stand out of tradition. Since this is a custom, a habit is formed.

But standing out of tradition has a historic significance. Even though there is no certainty of reason surrounding the custom of standing for the Hallelujah Chorus, the following might be considered. Being the protocol that people stand when a monarch stands, the audience and orchestra stood, a custom that remains to this day. And why did King George II stand?



According to Monty Bennett:

• The reasons are not known but are thought to be one of the following:

o King George II stood thinking that the performance was over.

o He was so moved by the performance that he stood to his feet.

o He stood out of tribute to Handel, the composer.

o He stood out of respect, showing that he is a subject of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.



The next time George Fredrick Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus is sung, somebody give me a hand and help me to stand. Will you?