Hallelujah Chorus & Handel

5th grade, assessments, chorus, composer, DVD, substitute

I enjoy teaching the Hallelujah Chorus to 5th graders around Christmastime – because they hear it in public places, movies, etc. during the holidays. We look at the Hallelujah Chorus listening map (see below), learn some facts about Handel and SATB choral parts, watch a video that’s a reenactment of Handel’s life, and assess.

Quick Facts

Born in Germany
As a child, played harpsichord and organ
Played violin, harpsichord, organ & piano
Harpsichord – feather quills plucking strings
Age 19, lived in Italy, wrote Italian operas, then oratorios
Oratorio = like opera, but less = story (usually serious or religious) sung without acting or costumes
Age 56, poor health, much debt, few friends, wrote most famous oratorio, the Messiah.
Most famous piece from the Messiah = Hallelujah Chorus = sung by choir, accompanied by orchestra
Four main singing parts of choir: soprano (high women’s voices), alto (low women’s voices), tenor (high men’s voices), bass (low men’s voices)