But Thanks to God

When a choir begins to learn the great choruses of G.F. Handel’s *Messiah*, "But Thanks to God" is often one of the most anticipated pieces. Drawing its text from 1 Corinthians 15, this chorus is a brilliant shout of triumph. The music captures the sheer joy of overcoming death, making it a powerful selection for Easter Sunday Mass or any major festive celebration where the choir wants to lift the congregation's spirits.

The arrangement is built on two contrasting but complementary ideas. First, the choir throws out bright, overlapping exclamations of "But thanks, thanks be to God," creating a lively, rhythmic energy that bounces from section to section. Then comes the sweeping, confident phrase "who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." As the voices weave these lines together, the momentum builds, driving the piece forward to a grand, unified finish.

For a choir director, teaching this piece means working on crisp diction and precise timing, especially when the voice parts echo each other. When sung with conviction, the repeated cries of "thanks" feel less like a formal classical performance and more like a genuine, overwhelming expression of gratitude from the choir loft.