the Hallelujah Chorus
/ðə ˌhælɪluːjə ˈkɔːrəs/
/ðə ˌhælɪluːjə ˈkɔːrəs/
- a well-known chorus (= musical piece for many voices) in the Messiah by George Frederick Handel. The music expresses great joy. According to tradition, the audience always stands up while the Hallelujah Chorus is being sung, because King George II did this at the first London performance of the Messiah in 1743.