Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Christmas Music, Part 7 – Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Charles Wesley (1707-1788), the younger brother of John Wesley wrote the words to this Christmas Carol.

Charles was a hymn writer and a poet, also known as one of the people who began the Methodist movement in the Church of England. Hark the Herald Angels Sing appeared in 1739 in a book called Hymns and Sacred Poems.

Wesley envisioned this being sung to the same tune as his hymn, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, and in some hymnals it is included along with the more popular version.

This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns and published as number 403 in “The Church Hymn Book” (New York and Chicago, USA, 1872).

To celebrate the invention of the printing press, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata in 1840 called Festgesang or “Festival Song”. The melody of Mendelssohn’s cantata was then used by William H. Cummings and adapted it to the lyrics of Wesley’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

And, of course, no one can do it better than The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Charles Wesley: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

18 Dec

In Honor of Charles Wesley ‘s birthday today. Wesley (1707-1788), the younger brother of John Wesley wrote the words to this Christmas Carol.

Charles was a hymn writer and a poet, also known as one of the people who began the Methodist movement in the Church of England. Hark the Herald Angels Sing appeared in 1739 in a book called Hymns and Sacred Poems.

Wesley envisioned this being sung to the same tune as his hymn, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, and in some hymnals it is included along with the more popular version.

This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns and published as number 403 in “The Church Hymn Book” (New York and Chicago, USA, 1872).

To celebrate the invention of the printing press, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata in 1840 called Festgesang or “Festival Song”. The melody of Mendelssohn’s cantata was then used by William H. Cummings and adapted it to the lyrics of Wesley’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

And, of course, no one can do it better than The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

This Year’s Christmas Music

01 Dec

Here’s a quick listing of all the Christmas music from last year.

Alfred Burt Carols, Parts 13-15 Dec 13-15, 2012
Angels We Have Heard on High Dec 3, 2012
Auld Lang Syne, Dec 31, 2012
Birthday of a King Dec 23, 2012
Cantata: Night of the Father’s Love, Parts 16-19 Dec 16-19, 2012
Carol of the Bells Dec 5, 2012
Ding Dong Merrily Dec 11, 2012
Good King Wenceslas Dec 26, 2012
Hallelujah Chorus Dec 25, 2012
Hark the Herald Angels Sing Dec 7, 2012
Holly Jolly Christmas Dec 27-31
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Dec 4, 2012
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Dec 8, 2012
Johnny Marks Music – Dec 27-31
Joy to the World Dec 2, 2012
Just in time for Christmas Dec 6, 2012
Mary Did You Know Dec 9, 2012
O Holy Night Dec 24, 2012
O Little Town of Bethlehem Dec 20, 2012
Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel Dec 10, 2012
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Dec 27-3131
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Dec 27-31
Run Rudolph Run Dec 27-31
Silver and Gold Dec 27-31
Sleigh Ride Dec 1, 2012
Still, Still, Still Dec 12, 2012
The First Noel Dec 21, 2012
We Three Kings Of Orient Are Dec 22, 2012

Possibilities for this year include:

Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Silent Night
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Lo, how a rose
Jesu bambino
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Muppet Christmas
Star of Bethlehem
Believe from the Polar Express
Holly and the ivy
Fum, fum, fum
Nutcracker Suite

Any Suggestions?

1 Comment

Posted by MaryO on December 1, 2013 in Christmas, Christmas Music, Holidays, Posts of Interest

Tags: A Holly Jolly Christmas, Alfred Burt, Angels We Have Heard On High, Auld Lang Syne, Cantata, carol, Carol of the Bells, Caroling Caroling, Christmas Cantata, Christmas Music, Ding Dong! Merrily On High, Good King Wenceslas, Hallelujah Chorus, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Johnny Marks, Joy to the World, Just In Time For Christmas, Mary Did You Know, O Come Emmanuel, O Holy Night, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Run Rudolph Run, Silver and Gold, Sleigh Ride, Still, The First Noel, We Three Kings Of Orient Are

This Year’s Christmas Music

31 Dec

Here’s a quick listing of all the Christmas music from this year. Stay tuned December 1, 2013 for the next 30… (suggestions welcome!)

Alfred Burt Carols, Parts 13-15 Dec 13-15, 2012
Angels We Have Heard on High Dec 3, 2012
Auld Lang Syne, Dec 31, 2012
Birthday of a King Dec 23, 2012
Cantata: Night of the Father’s Love, Parts 16-19 Dec 16-19, 2012
Carol of the Bells Dec 5, 2012
Ding Dong Merrily Dec 11, 2012
Good King Wenceslas Dec 26, 2012
Hallelujah Chorus Dec 25, 2012
Hark the Herald Angels Sing Dec 7, 2012
Holly Jolly Christmas Dec 27-31
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Dec 4, 2012
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Dec 8, 2012
Johnny Marks Music – Dec 27-31
Joy to the World Dec 2, 2012
Just in time for Christmas Dec 6, 2012
Mary Did You Know Dec 9, 2012
O Holy Night Dec 24, 2012
O Little Town of Bethlehem Dec 20, 2012
Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel Dec 10, 2012
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Dec 27-3131
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Dec 27-31
Run Rudolph Run Dec 27-31
Silver and Gold Dec 27-31
Sleigh Ride Dec 1, 2012
Still, Still, Still Dec 12, 2012
The First Noel Dec 21, 2012
We Three Kings Of Orient Are Dec 22, 2012

Possibilities for next year include:

Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Silent Night
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Lo, how a rose
Jesu bambino
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Muppet Christmas
Star of Bethlehem
Believe from the Polar Express
Holly and the ivy
Fum, fum, fum
Nutcracker Suite

Christmas Music, Part 7 – Hark the Herald Angels Sing

07 Dec

Charles Wesley (1707-1788), the younger brother of John Wesley wrote the words to this Christmas Carol.

Charles was a hymn writer and a poet, also known as one of the people who began the Methodist movement in the Church of England. Hark the Herald Angels Sing appeared in 1739 in a book called Hymns and Sacred Poems.

Wesley envisioned this being sung to the same tune as his hymn, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, and in some hymnals it is included along with the more popular version.

This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns and published as number 403 in “The Church Hymn Book” (New York and Chicago, USA, 1872).

To celebrate the invention of the printing press, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata in 1840 called Festgesang or “Festival Song”. The melody of Mendelssohn’s cantata was then used by William H. Cummings and adapted it to the lyrics of Wesley’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”