"Sing Hallelujah to the Lord" is a 1974 contemporary Christian worship song composed by Linda Stassen-Benjamin (born 1951) notable for its simplicity and popularity in many languages.[1]

Origin

The song was fully composed at a workshop at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, though the tune reportedly came to the songwriter while taking a shower, before she then took the tune to the composition group to work on harmonies. The song is in a minor key, which is unusual for a praise song.

It is unclear how many stanzas the song originally had, with some sources saying only one.[2] In one popular form it is a four stanza song themed as an Easter hymn for Resurrection Sunday, and the four stanzas are derived from simple repeated statements from the Bible found in early Christian liturgies.[3][4]

Use in protests

"Sing Hallelujah to the Lord" has been used as a protest song during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests. It is sung by many Christians and non-Christians in the protests. Under Hong Kong's Public Order Ordinance, religious gatherings are exempt from the definition of a "gathering" or "assembly" and therefore more difficult to police.[5][6][7]

Non-English-language versions

  • French: "Chante alléluia au Seigneur"[8]
  • Spanish: "Canta aleluya al Señor"[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ William Petersen, Ardythe Petersen The Complete Book of Hymns 1414331401 2015 p.74 "Everything seemed to be centered around Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, including music classes. So twenty-three year-old Linda Stassen got involved with a recording group and a music composition class. ... The simplicity of the words and the beauty of the tune have made it popular in languages around the world, including Chinese, Persian, Eskimo, and various European languages."
  2. ↑ Lift Up Your Hearts unto the Lord Archived 2019-06-29 at the Wayback Machine, hymnary.org
  3. ↑ Leslie Clay Sisters In Song; Women Hymn Writers 193668876X Archived 2018-05-10 at the Wayback Machine 2013 "Stassen-Benjamin. 1951 “Sing. Hallelujah”. Linda was born in La Porte, Indiana, ... She composed the song, “Sing Hallelujah” in 1974 while she was taking a shower. .. After that, she recorded it and it's now in many hymnals and translated in many languages. It is in a minor key, unusual for a praise son. However, the key works well with the first four stanzas which are derived from early Christian liturgies."
  4. ↑ Marilyn L. Haskel, Lisa Neufeld Thomas Voices Found 2004 0898693683 p.115 "Sing hallelujah Written in 1974 as part of the contemporary Christian music movement, this meditative song of praise for the Easter season has become a staple for prayer and praise services. The tempo is approximately quarter note "
  5. ↑ Leung, Hillary (June 19, 2019). "A 1974 Hymn Called 'Sing Hallelujah to the Lord' Has Become the Anthem of the Hong Kong Protests". Time.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  6. ↑ S.R. (June 14, 2019). "Do you hear the people sing? Not in China". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  7. ↑ Hong Kong Christians turn 'Sing Hallelujah to the Lord' into unlikely protest anthem Archived 2019-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, ABC News, 20 June 2019
  8. ↑ Il est vivant !: Carnet de chants L'Emmanuel 2007 p.107
  9. ↑ El himnario presbiteriano, Geneva Press, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation 0664500145 1999 p.166
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