The shocking truth
article
A
Anders Krøger2 min read|9. December 2025
It took Georg Friedrich Händel only 24 days to write the choral and orchestral work Messiah. The work, best known for the movement Hallelujah, was written in 1741 and is a central part of Christmas traditions for many people around the world. Because of its enormous popularity, there are a number of myths and legends surrounding the work! In this article you will learn the truth
Most people now associate Messiah with Christmas, but the work was originally written for Easter.
Many believe the work had its premiere in London, but it was first performed in Dublin, Ireland.
It has been said that the work is so popular because the text is in English and because of British colonisation. This is, however, not easy to establish, but it may be a contributing factor.
Some believe that Mozart orchestrated the work. It is true that Mozart orchestrated a version of the work, but the version most often played is orchestrated by the composer himself.
For a long time many people believed that the audience had to stand during the work's most famous number, Hallelujah. However, it is most common for the audience to be allowed to remain seated, even during this movement. The reason this myth arose was that King George II is said to have been so enthralled that he stood up during a performance, and so the rest of the hall stood up too.