Alleluia was originally written as a work for a capella choir by Ralph Manuel in 1987. Written in four sections, the entire piece centers around the title lyric. A simple arching melody starts off the piece with accompanimental texture in the underlying voices. The second section features imitative counterpoint that builds in crescendo into the third part, a grand homophonic reprise of the original theme. To close out the work Manuel changes the harmonic texture by moving briefly to a minor mode and slowing the tempo to a somber close.