"The Hallelujah Chorus" performed by The Roches

An early `80's performance by The Roches of the Handel classic.

[@mnemotronic]

I miss the Roches. Rest in peace Maggie.

[@DorothyOfOz1960]

Me too! RIP Maggie. ❤️

[@ekongkaarkaurkhalsa9617]

The most magnificent rendition of Hallelujiah ever.

[@Elspode]

This is one of those pieces that you see/hear, and wonder just who the FUCK could give it a thumbs down?

[@bendrew6356]

Enough to make an atheist say "Praise the lord"!!

[@LDK47]

Different sisters shine on different performances/songs, but Maggie on this song is truly awe-inspiring and chill-inducing.

[@tejaswoman]

Astonishing thing about this arrangement is, you can listen and listen with all your might trying to figure out what's missing compared to the four-part version, and you will never find it, because it just isn't.

[@RUDYNATACHA]

You're right, it's hard to believe that's only three people!

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Still gives me chills to hear this. They were so, so wonderful.

[@SarahJonestoo]

Isn't that so!

[@vickicopp]

Took the words right out of my mouth, Chasbo!

[@FlipFlopMom]

Same. This never fails to blow me away.

[@njw5869]

They sound like a whole choir .

[@radioflier9972]

I remember being absolutely blown away when I saw them perform this on Saturday Night Live in 1979. Bought their first album (as a trio) the next day, continues to be one of my all time favorites. I could listen to the Hallelujah chorus all day. Their voices soar, timing is perfect, the music exhilarating and their harmonies are exquisite. So sorry about Maggie...

[@wildsarsaparilla]

I was there also in '79 in front of my parent's B&W TV set! Amazing! I still own all their LP's although worn out by multiple playings.

[@flappinwings7274]

I saw them when they were selling tapes out of their trunk! They were so good and I think of them often. RIP Maggie.

[@bentonrcmp]

Praises to KZbin for keeping her voice live everlasting🙏

[@sberesford2523]

RIP Maggie

[@BillSmith-rx9rm]

The hallelujah chorus is not difficult to perform. That is, by a full ensemble. What makes this special is that there are only three voices that are covering multiple parts. That makes it more challenging. I have performed this as part of a brass quintet and that is somewhat challenging. To do it with only three parts makes it even more so.

[@vincentchavez2198]

Amazing vocals by these three girls, they're covering an entire chorus made of dozens of men and women usually performing this spectacular piece by Friedrich Handell, and that's what makes this piece more interesting. The Roches are unique!

[@einfussganger]

The Roches have the BEST Christmas album (We Three Kings). So quirky and talented.

[@turquoisewitch.wild-owl]

That was so awesome! I loved singing the soprano part in HS chorus! Beautiful!

[@cliffchristie5865]

My first exposure to The Roches was when they performed this song on Saturday Night Live in 1979. Impressed and intrigued, I've been a fan ever since.

[@philip_hees]

Saw them perform this live sometime in the late 1980s. It was Wow! then, and still Wow! now.

[@HeartoftheDragonColo]

spot on, too. RIP Maggie.

[@magiccitymama1620]

They have the best Christmas album ever.

[@bobwasilewski5768]

This was the very first song that I ever heard by The Roches. I was completely mesmerized by their wonderful sound. At the time, this was on vinyl. I went on to hear the entire album. It's was magical. Now that I was a fan, I went on to enjoy their other albums.

[@ViolettaD1485]

That gave me chills.... Need to get this back on Christmas radio instead of the same tired old playlist.

[@FlipFlopMom]

YES

[@Robutube1]

Just imagine the hours of hard work that went in to perfecting this piece - simply marvellous!

[@mlminto]

wow. they sound like 47 people singing!

[@rdalin]

This is the first thing I ever heard them sing, at the Bottom Line in NYC, many years ago.

[@janetownley]

I saw them there too :-)

[@tuleebird4637]

Hallelujah!!!

[@fredkrissman6527]

Saw them do this tune, and Suzzy was really yucking it up, keeping the audience in stitches AND in awe!

[@brbrknndy]

Bravo. Beautiful rendition.

[@TenNoZeorymer72]

I always share this to people who only know of Maggie, Terre and Suzzy from Tiny Toon Adventures. Then they become converts. ;)

[@barbarashapiro3878]

Stunning

[@johngolden891]

Beautiful harmony that brings out the brightness and energy of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.

[@wfode3]

Doesn't get much better than this!!! Wow!!

[@Earthsaverdon99]

Wow! Blew me away when I first heard them perform this on Saturday Night Live. And it still does. Love The Roches!

[@stevenostlund4543]

Beautiful

[@veganworldpeace2649]

Wonderful & magnificent singing sisters...The iconic, "The Roaches" were so awesome & fun live in concert when I saw them perform at my university in 1981.

[@johngrooms34]

I agree they were awesome, iconic and fun. Sooooo, you might want to spell the name of the group correctly: The Roches.

[@vickicopp]

I don't know what the spiritual views (if any) were/are of a single one of these sisters. I wasn't familiar with the Roches at all until much later in life, and I still know very little. But it's difficult not to believe that they were really feeling something holy during the final moments of the finale performance. I think Handel's "The Hallelujah Chorus" is one of the most inspiring pieces ever written, Still brings tears, as this performance definitely did!

[@terryboyer1342]

They were raised Catholic.

[@irenecarney6236]

What a wonderful throwback! That you, Stevie, and for years of friendship, starting and ending the years in one another's company. Love to you,. Pat, Eli, Toby and Kai.

[@rosaliewright4226]

I love love love these sisters! Thanks for this. I haven't heard them in too long.

[@marmaz57]

Wow!

[@asrose7979]

Nice choice of material, great intonation, great adaptation of four-part harmony. No strings or horns needed here! Think I'll play it again. Oh ... Praise Jahveh ! ✡✝ 🌹

[@colinhare4404]

Saw them perform in UK in around 1980. Totally Awesome! Love ‘em!

[@SarahJonestoo]

Awesome. Thanks so much for posting. Loved The Roches. Still do.

[@martinlintzgy1361]

This is so good... Sends shivers righ through me

[@PetitChef29]

💜🎶

[@loripopp6383]

Wow!❤

[@daviddawson6701]

Wonderful.

[@davidmiles533]

Thank you for the post. Finally an alternative to their older version. This is better sound.

[@reelfan-16]

Astonishing perfection! Thank you for sharing this! Merry Christmas!

[@laurenceeighnerhexamer1135]

No one is standing.

[@RUDYNATACHA]

AWESOME!!!!!

[@maynardmoleman]

Wow...awesome!

[@Bagheerayoga]

Mesmerizing

[@bryannepveu6807]

Maggie's beautiful tremelo

[@laurabryannan]

Nailed it!

[@mynameISsky]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ellenevans9697]

love this

[@polyglotte]

Sublime.

[@GH-oi2jf]

I saw them at the Guthrie Theater a couple of times. Good times.

[@Mikados_Advark12]

Wonderful

[@calum66]

Stupendous!

[@LarrySteffens]

Wasn't this Austin City Limits? I taped this in 1983 or so, lost it long ago and have been trying to find this particular performance again for the past 20 years.

[@fairportfan2]

Judging by the thumbnail shot of Suzzy at this "Soundstage" video {kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX_Vg4SfismMqbs}, i'd bet on that being the source.

[@UnknownPascal-sc2nk]

For finding old recordings it was suggested to me to contact The Library of Congress.

[@polyglotte]

!!!!!

[@tamparker854]

kadosh, kadosh, kadosh

[@fullplate100]

Beautifully well done. Tempo? WHY so fast??

[@ericminch]

Breath. They're covering four parts with three singers, so they have to time-share. Each is singing their own part, plus a bit of the neighboring part. They need to breathe in between, but not for too long, so their breath can't last as long on a phrase as someone dedicated to a single part, thus they have to rush through it so as not to run out of breath.

[@katiearkieson3935]

peggy sue and the pirates

[@rogerturner5504]

Nobody under 40 will get this - 'No Autotune!'.

[@johngrooms34]

Why insult an entire generation? Do you think musical knowledge suddenly stopped because you got older? I'm 70, love the Roches, and also love it that there are so many much younger fans who appreciate them too.

[@rogerturner5504]

@@johngrooms34 Sorry John. I should have said nobody under 40 in England will get this.

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

@@rogerturner5504 oi dad oi quite resembles that statement very very.m....well, yes, oi hates it actually.. very very much..giveth me me tekno or maketh me fookin deaf..oi.....

[@rogerturner5504]

@@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out English please.

[@DrChaad]

Hallelujah= הללויה literally, "Praise Yahweh". It sounds decent, but by their nonchalance, they don't appear to be in very reverent frames of mind. The jaded, indifferent look of the one examining her nails is almost profane. Are they Jewish ?

[@mattrogers5188]

They have an understated sense of humor.

[@jlbaker2000]

Quirky. Thats their charm. Irish Catholic American. Not Jewish. Sang in church choir together as children.

[@mikec8116]

She was not examining her nails. She was counting. This is a furiously complex piece.

[@DrChaad]

Matt Rogers , I saw them sing this on SNL, where they were similarly acting deadpan dry and indifferent, as if it was a joke. I don't think Händel or God (the Lyricist) intended it to be humorous.

[@DrChaad]

Mike C , Thanks for your theory, but I don't think so. Granted, there is a certain mathematical intricacy to this piece, as with much of Händel, Bach & their contemporaries. I've sung this piece a few times, in the original SATB choral scoring, with original Baroque instruments. I've composed and conducted pieces in similar 18th-century contrapuntal style (albeit nothing approaching the harmonic brilliance of this). Even before the singers have committed their parts to memory, there is never any need for a musician of this caliber to count, especially on her fingers. I am convinced of their overt display of scorn. Apologies for my lack of flippance, if you were positing this idea tongue-in-cheek. 🙂 🎼