Inspirare: Alleluia - Resolution through Celebration

Keith CHRISTOPHER: A Joyful Alleluia

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

A Joyful Alleluia by American composer Keith Christopher sung by children's choir Schola Cantorum, from St Mark's School in Wellington, and the women of Inspirare, conducted by Mark Stamper.  

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer:Darryl Stack

Lyn WILLIAMS: Festive Alleluia; Ralph MANUEL: Alleluia; David CONTE: Alleluia

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

Lyn Williams is one of Australia’s most celebrated choral conductors working mainly with children’s choirs.

First Schola Cantorum from St Mark's School in Wellington sings her Festive Alleluia, then Inspirare sings a lovely ‘Alleluia’ setting by American composer Ralph Manuel.

Finally Schola Cantorum sings Alleluia by American David Conte.

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer: Darryl Stack

Thomas LAVOY: Alleluia; Srul Irving GLICK: Haleluya

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

Thomas LaVoy is a choral singer and his music has been commissioned and performed by choirs around the world. He spent a number of years living in Scotland where he completed his Ph.D and was a choral scholar in the King’s College Chapel Choir in Aberdeen. LaVoy says his Scottish experience greatly influenced his choral writing.

Canada’s Srul Irving Glick champions a Jewish musical voice in his music. In Haleluya - a setting of Psalm 150, the psalmist urges the congregation to praise God with ‘music and dancing’!

Psalm 150 is often known as 'the musicians’ psalm' because it names nine different instruments for praising God with music and dancing. Inspirare sings it in Hebrew.

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer: Darryl Stack

Eric WHITACRE: Alleluia; HANDEL: Hallelujah Chorus, from Messiah

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

A 2011 setting of Alleluia by Eric Whitacre. Whitacre says, “I’m not an atheist but I’m not a Christian either, and for my entire career I have resisted setting texts that could be used in a liturgical context. But after spending a term in 2010 singing in Cambridge with the Chapel Choir of Sidney Sussex College, I began to see the deep wisdom in the liturgical service. I found myself suddenly open to the history and the beauty of the poetry, and it was the single word Alleluia, ‘praise God’, that most enchanted me.”

Then, Inspirare with the audience in the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul joining in, sing the famous Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s 'Messiah'. The trumpeter is Toby Pringle and Michael Stewart accompanies on the organ.

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer: Darryl Stack

Paul BASLER: Alleluia; Randall THOMPSON: Alleluia

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

During the early-90s, Paul Basler, an American, spent a year as a Fulbright lecturer at Kenyatta University outside of Nairobi, and this Alleluia setting reflects those Kenyan influences. It’s a rhythmic and earthy hymn in praise of God. Basler is a French horn player so there’s an obbligato horn part for his instrument along with piano and percussion accompaniment.

Then a contemplative setting by the distinguished American composer Randall Thompson. Thompson’s 1940 setting was inspired by the effect of the Second World War on Europe, particularly the fall of France.

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer: Darryl Stack

BEETHOVEN: Hallelujah, from Christ on the Mount of Olives

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

Hallelujah from Beethoven’s oratorio ‘Christ on the Mount of Olives’ is the final chorus in the drama portraying Jesus’ emotional turmoil in the garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion.

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer:Darryl Stack

Leonard COHEN arr Lawson: Hallelujah

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

Hallelujah is perhaps Canadian singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen's most famous song, first recorded by him in 1984. Although the song wasn’t a great success initially for Cohen, it received greater acclaim through recordings by John Cale and Jeff Buckley.

After Hallelujah featured in the 2001 film ‘Shrek’ its popularity rocketed and the song now exists in over 300 versions and arrangements.

This arrangement was made for the King’s Singers by Philip Lawson.

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer: Darryl Stack

Sydney GUILLAUME: Alleluia Amen; David BEDNALL: Easter Alleluia; LANGEGER arr Stamper: Irish Blessing

Inspirare at St Mary of the Angels, Wellington Photo: Gareth Jesse White

Children’s choir Schola Cantorum joins Inspirare for two double choir settings. First Alleluia, Amen by the Haitian composer Sydney Guillaume, then Easter Alleluia by the Englishman David Bednall.

Schola Cantorum is from St Mark’s Church School in Wellington. The soloist in Easter Alleluia is Joe Haddow and Michael Stewart accompanies on the organ.

The arrangement of Graeme Langeger's Irish Blessing is by Mark Stamper.

Recorded 23 March 2019, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by RNZ Concert

Producer: David McCaw

Engineer: Darryl Stack