Although American composer Randall Thompson wrote two operas, three symphonies, and many other choral works, he is far and away best known for his Alleluia for chorus. Since its premiere in 1940, Thompson's Alleluia has been performed countless times by amateur and professional choirs, giving Thompson a fair shot at being the most frequently performed of all American serious composers. Commissioned by Sergey Koussevitzky for the opening exercises of the Berkshire (now the Tanglewood) Music Festival. Thompson received the commission in spring 1940, but was occupied with other commissions until June 30 of that year. He wrote the work from July 1 through 5, but the music didn't reach choral director G. Wallace "Woody" Woodworth until 45 minutes before the concert was to start on July 8. Woodworth reassured the students that "Well, text is at least one thing we won't have to worry about"—Thompson's text sets only the work Alleluia—and amazingly, the performance went off splendidly. Since that time, Thompson's Alleluia has been performed at the start of each Tanglewood Festival season. Thompson's Alleluia is anything but joyous. Marked Lento, the music moves slowly and pensively toward its climax in waves of choral sound. As Thompson later remarked, "The music in my particular Alleluia cannot be made to sound joyous...here it is comparable to the Book of Job where it is written 'The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.'"

© James Leonard, Rovi