"Hallelujah" – 15th Spandau Church Music Festival

Church musicians and guests will showcase their talents, whether as virtuosos on the organ, playing string or wind instruments, or, of course, with their voices.

But why is it always ‘Hallelujah’?

“Hallelujah is probably the best-known religious cry of praise of all,” writes church musician Jürgen Trinkewitz. “The word comes from Hebrew and means ‘Praise the Lord’.

In this way, the Hallelujah also encapsulates the very essence of all church music: music as praise and a response to God. Wherever people listen, sing and make music, faith becomes audible and tangible – through spirit, voice, body and instrument.”

Praise him with trumpets, praise him with psalteries and harps!

Praise him with timbales and with dancing! Praise him with strings and with pipes!

Praise him with bright cymbals, praise him with melodious cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

(Psalm 150)

And so there could hardly be a more fitting motto for a festival of church music. For Psalm 150 places no restrictions on the musical means employed.

It is not the instrument that matters, but the common goal: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! And so this year we will hear Bach & Brass, Gospel & Piano, Choir & Organ. Discover the varied programme.

The highlight is the musical service on 4 October at Christophorus Church: a choir made up of members from the various choirs in the church district will sing classical, tango-style and pop-inspired arrangements of the individual movements of the Mass.

‘The Hallelujah’ will also be performed.