OnTheTown: How many times does the word "hallelujah" get a mention in the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel's Messiah? Conductor Proinnsias Ó Duinn, who wound up this week's performance of the great work (as well as the audience) played a little game.
"I want you to try and count them," Ó Duinn announced at the site of the former Neal's Musick Hall in Fishamble Street, where the Messiah was first performed in 1742. So hundreds of music lovers and curious passers-by raised their arms according to the demands of the music until the street resembled a football stadium.
Before this became an annual event, as Mark Jenkinson, a member of Our Lady's Choral Society, explained, someone in a flat on Fishamble Street would open his window and play the Messiah on a record player on April 20th every year, the anniversary of the first performance of the work. "So we badgered Proinnsias to do it. We thought it would be a one-off, but it's now in its 14th year."
They were lucky this time, as the sun came out and chased much (not all) of the chill away.
"We've been out here before in the rain and snow and sleet," said alto Angela Hoban.
"But we'd sing for anybody, anywhere, any time," added alto Anne White.
Brian and Amanda Tuite brought one of Handel's youngest fans - their 10-month-old son, Jack. "He loved it," said the proud father. They were joined after the performance by Jack's uncle, tenor Paul Byrom, who sang the solos.
Robert Payne and Dina Vinci, students at Trinity College happened upon the event. "I was just walking by on my way into college when I heard music," said Payne. "I thought it was great. You never get to hear much stuff like that."
The music teased Susanne Bach and Paul Fitzgerald out of their office at the Tisch School of the Arts, a special overseas film programme run by New York University.
"It's great to have something like this on the doorstep," said Fitzgerald, who teaches music video.
So how many hallelujahs are there in the famous chorus? You'll have to count them for yourself.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Our Lady's Choral Society a concert will take place in the National Concert Hall on Wednesday next at 8pm, featuring some of the composers most closely associated with the society, including Elgar, Verdi and Vaughan Williams. Tickets: €20-€25. Tel: 01-4170000