The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.
The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.
Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.
Hallelujah Chorus from "Messiah"
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth (Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah)
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah (Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah)
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth (Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah)
Hallelujah
The kingdom of this world
Is become
The kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ
And of His Christ
And He shall reign forever and ever
And He shall reign forever and ever (And He shall reign forever and ever)
And He shall reign forever and ever (And He shall reign forever and ever)
And he shall reign forever and ever (And He shall reign forever and ever)
King of kings (Forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah)
And lord of lords (Forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah)
King of kings (Forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah)
And lord of lords (Forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah)
King of kings (Forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah)
And lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign forever and ever (And he shall reign)
And he shall reign forever and ever (And he shall reign)
King of kings forever and ever
And lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah
And he shall reign forever, forever and ever
King of kings and lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign forever and ever (And he shall reign forever and ever)
Forever and ever, forever and ever (King of kings and lord of lords)
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah
The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah is one of the most iconic pieces of choral music ever written. The opening lines of this choral masterpiece simply repeat the word "Hallelujah" multiple times. Hallelujah is a Hebrew word which means 'God be praised' or 'Glory to God'. The repetition of this word throughout the piece is meant to convey the power of God and the joyous nature of the message being delivered.
As the piece progresses, the chorus sings about the reign of the Lord God and how the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. The lyrics speak of the eternal nature of God's reign and how He shall reign forever and ever, emphasizing the power and sovereignty of God. The final lyrics proclaim Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords, further reinforcing the idea of God's reign and His ultimate authority.
Overall, the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah is a celebration of God's greatness and eternal reign. The repetition of the word "Hallelujah" throughout the piece reinforces the joyous nature of the message and the power of God. The emphasis on Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords also reinforces the idea of God's ultimate sovereignty.
Line by Line Meaning
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Praise be to God, repeated multiple times
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
God, who is all powerful and almighty, is reigning
The kingdom of this world
The worldly, earthly realm
Is become
Has been transformed into
The kingdom of our Lord,
God's kingdom
And of His Christ
And also of Jesus Christ, who is His son
And He shall reign forever and ever
God's reign is eternal
King of kings
God is the king of all kings
And lord of lords
And also the lord of all lords
And he shall reign forever, forever and ever
God's reign is eternal and never ending
Forever and ever
For all eternity
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL, STEVEN V. TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1bicycleddie
In a 65 person Church Choir, my first such experience, we were blessed to learn this from our Pastoral Minister, JM ..he put us through the paces for 4 months to sing this at Christmas Eve Mass 2018. I had never been aware of this song. After the Choir sang this, ( I was in as a Bass 1 ) for our congregation, I, we, many seniors, kindda fell back on the bench seats in the Choir Loft, just winded and near tears that we pulled it off. The Choir Pastoral Minister bid us to stand, from below in the Church, 300 fellow parishioners applauded. I looked at my feet in humility. We had put in 4 hrs a week for 4 months, I could feel Heaven and the smile of Jesus and my deceased family.
Now, if I listen to Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this, I cry.
God prevailed.
Covid flees,
Maybe soon we sing in Choir again.
@thatsjustmytake9294
Every time the women sing KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS and their pitch gets higher and higher, always touches my soul in ways I can't explain. Simply angelic.
@robw9435
That part always makes the hair on my back and arms stand up.
@alohaoe06
My sentiments exactly!
@MLMLW
I used to could sing that high soprano but as I've gotten older I'm now more of an alto as my voice has gotten lower.
@barrakliberal8539
I sang this with about 1500 other high school students in Germany, in 1974. Every school in the country sent one student to a massive festival, and I was honored to be part of it, as the representative from the US Air Force headquarters high school from Wiesbaden. First and only time in my life I have broken a sweat singing my guts out.
@cyndidickson4908
I would've love to have heard that. Is there a recording of it anywhere?
@mellib2086
I'm not Mormon but your choir is a blessing! I get chills every time I hear this song and want to fall on my face before the Lord. For His glorious return I pray...
@robinaguinaldo4507
Amen
@kennethldawsom7923
The eternal god
@claudiaderry6951
Me too!