Have you participated in singing Handel's Hallelujah? There are sing-a-longs every year so at some time you might have.
I am in a choir that is rehearsing this song. I went to rehearsal last week where there were 3 choirs together in the church. That was more than 40 voices singing. I found that very loud - more noise than music. It took a while to get used to the volume.
This is a very fast song with a lot of variations on the Hallelujah rhythm. For the singer: pay attention, so you don't fall off the galloping horse. You can always catch up at "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" and then at "King of Kings." Everyone's on board there.
I like the end - we stop yet the sound continues. Then it stops. I don't know how long it goes for. Long enough to be in awe.
Handel knew all this would be the case: "His servants would often find him in tears as he composed. When he completed “Hallelujah,” he reportedly told his servant, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”
Our combined choirs make up around 40 people. There are choirs of more than 350 people. That would be louder than loud - a very large church or hall is needed.
I wonder what the size of the Mormon Tabernacle is. They were joined by over 2,000 voices worldwide for a virtual singing. And then all the pop-up Messiahs in food courts/halls.
There are performances with 600 singers in Sydney, 1000 in an open air concert in Ireland, and 2000 at Massey Hall in Toronto. And you can join the concert this year:
"Whether you’re an avid singer, an occasional crooner, or just want to join the festivities to “listen along,” this is a Toronto tradition that you won’t want to miss!"
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