In a previous post, I mentioned that for one New Jersey Christmas party I play the piano for the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” The guests sing it in four-part harmony, and the results are thrilling.

You can hear a discussion of why this piece of music is so brilliant at the NPR program Performance Today.

Composer-conductor Rob Kapilow analyzes the “Hallelujah Chorus” to explain why the “Hallelujah Chorus” works so well. Going over it note by note, Kapilow explains how the musical simplicity builds and builds to yield an extremely powerful whole.

At the end of the eight minute segment you can hear a wonderful performance by the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.

If you want to skip the discussion and go right to the music, click here.