Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The Hallelujah Chorus by Georg Friedrich Handel. One of the most well-known pieces of music from the baroque period. Sung with grace and splendour – not to be tampered with.
Last night, I heard one of the worst renditions of the song one can possibly imagine. I had been at the annual Carols by Candlelight at Elder Park in Adelaide with a friend of mine from high school. It has been something of a tradition between us that has been going for the past decade. We have only missed it twice due to extenuating circumstances but have enjoyed it nonetheless. Each year, the Hallelujah Chorus has been sung with perfection – until now.
For reasons unknown to us, the organisers decided to invite a rapper to the stage. Now, I’m not fan of a rap by any stretch of the imagination but I have heard some artists who do the music industry justice – this one didn’t. If the rapper had sung one of his own songs, I might have tolerated it. However, when he came on stage and rapped the Hallelujah Chorus with the Young Adelaide Voices choir [who were singing it as it was supposed to be sung], it pretty much ruined the entire night for me.
Why? Because not only is the song heard best without the remix of other genres but it was the first song of the night – an introduction to the carolling spirit. Who raps with songs from the baroque period? I don’t know about you but I certainly wouldn’t call rap graceful or splendid! Poor old Handel must be turning in his grave!
Sadly, this experience has ruined my listening experience of the Hallelujah Chorus. I used to listen to the song for what it was. Now, I’ll no doubt be listening to it for what it has become!
