In the conclusion to his cantata “Praise the Lord, My Soul” (BWV 143), for example, the “Hallelujah” fairly leaps with joy through its dancing meter and energized rhythms. Floating over ...

Hallelujah! Granted, I did not ask the grateful man whether he knew Hebrew, but basically, his thanksgiving translates as: “praise” (hallel) the “LORD” (Yah/weh). Notably, a “hallelujah ...

The second part, which focuses on Christ’s earthly mission, culminates in the incomparable “Hallelujah,” one of the most recognizable and beloved pieces in the choral/orchestral canon.