Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen Flute Choir - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1537180

"Hallelujah" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and first released on his 1984 album *Various Positions*. Although the song initially received little attention, it later gained widespread popularity through John Cale’s 1991 cover. Cale’s rendition inspired Jeff Buckley’s 1994 version, which Rolling Stone ranked number 259 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004. The song reached an even wider audience after Cale’s version appeared in the 2001 film *Shrek*, leading to countless renditions in recordings and live performances. By 2008, over 300 versions were recorded. "Hallelujah" has since become a cultural fixture, featured in numerous films, TV shows, and talent competitions. Following Cohen's passing in November 2016, the song re-entered international charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in the U.S. Song's Origins and Evolution Leonard Cohen reportedly wrote between 80 to 180 drafts of "Hallelujah," meticulously revising lines over a span of five years. During a writing session at New York's Royalton Hotel, he was said to have resorted to sitting on the floor in his underwear, filling notebooks, and banging his head in frustration. According to Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, directors of the 2022 documentary *Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song*, Cohen continuously refined the lyrics, making adjustments for different performances. Despite its later acclaim, "Hallelujah" faced initial setbacks. Columbia Records initially declined to release the album *Various Positions*, allegedly telling Cohen, "We know you are great, but don't know if you are any good." After its independent release, the song remained largely unnoticed until Cale’s 1991 cover brought it to the public’s attention. Cohen’s live performances evolved over time, with lyrics shifting significantly from his original studio version in 1984 to his performances in 1985, 1988, and 1993. Over the years, various artists have interpreted the lyrics in unique ways. For instance, Rufus Wainwright replaced Cohen’s "holy dove" with "holy dark," while Allison Crowe sang "holy ghost," creating their own takes on Cohen's profound and complex masterpiece.

This arrangement is for flute choir.