Twenty-Four Hallelujahs

Description

Twenty-Four Hallelujahs, for SATB chorus with piano by Joseph Hasper, is a simple song of praise in a rich harmonic setting.

The single word of text, “Hallelujah,” is repeated in a number of variations and rhythmic schemes that deliver nuances of meaning in a way that the text alone cannot. At times the text is contemplative; in others it is jubilant and even forceful.

The choral parts are meant to be vocally unchallenging to allow the singers to focus on the expression of each phrase. The piano part, on the other hand, is intended to be technically challenging, and provides a foil which, when juxtaposed against the voices, adds yet another nuance of meaning to the words.