Hallejuha - King George II stood up?

This is about the Messiah song by Handel (23 Feb 1685 – 14 April 1759). You know this one. When the chorus kicked it up a notch singing Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Our King George II, so inspired, could no longer sit. He rose.

And so did everyone else. No matter how Rock and Roll you are, this song can still hit you. That's the legend, and because of the power of the song, such a story pushes for belief.

This song, around since 1741, no doubt found its way during the first Great Awakening (1730s to 1740s) to the colonies.

You think being "Woke" is new?

Winchester VA was founded 3 years after the Messiah song. And the story about King George II standing? That alleges to come from a letter in 1756, the year Fort Loudoun construction began.

Wikipedia:

The custom of standing for the Hallelujah chorus originates from a popular belief that, at the London premiere, King George II did so, which would have obliged all to stand. There is no convincing evidence that the king was present, or that he attended any subsequent performance of Messiah; the first reference to the practice of standing appears in a letter dated 1756, three years prior to Handel's death.

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We cannot find that 1756 letter. But the search is on. We send this out to see if anyone has a tip on this legend.

Worth a moment to play.

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Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 12/25/2022