Alleluia (Thompson)
Encyclopedia
Alleluia is a piece for unaccompanied SATB
chorus
by Randall Thompson
. Composed over the first five days of July in 1940, it was given its world premiere on July 8 of that year at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood
under the direction of G. Wallace Woodworth.
The work was written on a commission from Serge Koussevitzky
, director of the Tanglewood Festival. Koussevitzky wanted a "fanfare
" for voices to be performed at the opening exercises of the new Berkshire Music Center, and he asked Thompson to contribute such a piece. Instead of the joyous work expected of him, the composer produced a quiet and introspective piece. Thompson was inspired by the war in Europe
, and the recent fall of France; given these events, he felt that to write a festive piece would be inappropriate.
The text of the work is simple; it consists of the word "Alleluia
" repeated over and over again. The only other word in the text is "Amen", which is used once at the end. The end also divides the choir into seven parts.
Thompson once wrote that the Alleluia is
The piece has become Thompson's most popular work, and is frequently performed today.
SATB
In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...
chorus
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
by Randall Thompson
Randall Thompson
Randall Thompson was an American composer, particularly noted for his choral works.-Career:He attended Harvard University, became assistant professor of music and choir director at Wellesley College, and received a doctorate in music from the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music...
. Composed over the first five days of July in 1940, it was given its world premiere on July 8 of that year at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
under the direction of G. Wallace Woodworth.
The work was written on a commission from Serge Koussevitzky
Serge Koussevitzky
Serge Koussevitzky , was a Russian-born Jewish conductor, composer and double-bassist, known for his long tenure as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924 to 1949.-Early career:...
, director of the Tanglewood Festival. Koussevitzky wanted a "fanfare
Fanfare
A Fanfare is a relatively short piece of music that is typically played by trumpets and other brass instruments often accompanied by percussion...
" for voices to be performed at the opening exercises of the new Berkshire Music Center, and he asked Thompson to contribute such a piece. Instead of the joyous work expected of him, the composer produced a quiet and introspective piece. Thompson was inspired by the war in Europe
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the recent fall of France; given these events, he felt that to write a festive piece would be inappropriate.
The text of the work is simple; it consists of the word "Alleluia
Alleluia
The word "Alleluia" or "Hallelujah" , which at its most literal means "Praise Yah", is used in different ways in Christian liturgies....
" repeated over and over again. The only other word in the text is "Amen", which is used once at the end. The end also divides the choir into seven parts.
Thompson once wrote that the Alleluia is
a very sad piece. The word "Alleluia" has so many possible interpretations. The music in my particular Alleluia cannot be made to sound joyous. It is a slow, sad piece, and...here it is comparable to the Book of Job, where it is written, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
The piece has become Thompson's most popular work, and is frequently performed today.