One of the most interesting things about the popular carol “Joy to the World” is that it wasn’t written about Christmas, or even as a song. Isaac Watts, a minister, and prominent hymn writer, in 1719 published “The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament,” a book of poems based on the psalms. More than a century later, the second half of the poem that drew on Psalm 98 was adapted, set to music, and became “Joy to the World.”
Instead of being written for Christmas, the original poem was composed to celebrate the Second Coming of Jesus. No one seems to know how it eventually was associated with Christmas.
The music accompanying the song is thought to have been composed in 1839 by Lowell Mason, another prominent hymn writer, with some notes possibly borrowed from Frederick Handel’s masterpiece “The Messiah.” Some writers believe that the Handel himself wrote the music.
Watts believed that the songs performed in worship services in his time lacked joy and emotion “To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion,” he said. It’s unfortunate, then, that he never heard what began as Psalm 98 set to such joyous music.
In 2014 TIME magazine set out to determine the most popular Christmas carol, also called a noel, in recent times. After combing through files at the U.S. Copyright Office going back to 1978, the magazine learned that “Joy to the World” was the second most recorded Christmas song over that period, following (distantly) only “Silent Night."
A History of "What Child is This"
Originally written as a poem in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix, "What Child is This" was later set to the melody of "Greensleeves". Although written in England, the song is considered to be one of the classic American Christmas carols.
What Child is This
Chords Used: Em | G | D | Bm | B7
Words by William Dix, 1865.
Traditional English melody.
Traditional English melody.
Em G D Bm
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
Em B7
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Em G D Bm
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
Em B7 Em
While shepherds watch are keeping?
chorus:
G D
This, this is Christ the King,
Em B7
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
G D
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
Em B7 Em
The babe, the son of Mary.
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
Em B7
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Em G D Bm
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
Em B7 Em
While shepherds watch are keeping?
chorus:
G D
This, this is Christ the King,
Em B7
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
G D
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
Em B7 Em
The babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent word is pleading.
(chorus)
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
(chorus)
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent word is pleading.
(chorus)
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
(chorus)
What was the first Christmas carol?
It’s generally accepted that one of the first Christmas carols ever to be recorded was the 129 AD ‘Angels Hymn’, . Around this time, Christianity-themed hymns started taking over the previous pagan songs celebrating Winter Solstice.
More and more slow, solemn hymns started to emerge in the fourth century, and by the 12th, songs referring to Nativity themes and creatures had emerged.
, one of the oldest printed carols is the ‘Boar’s Head Carol’, which dates from 1521. Apparently, it was traditionally heard annually at Queen’s College, Oxford as Christmas lunch was carried in.
‘Coventry Carol’ is a Medieval carol that endures in today’s Christmas programmes; and Renaissance composer, ’s ‘O magnum mysterium’ remains popular.
Other traditional carols thought to be from the Middle Ages include ‘’ and ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night’ – although the ‘God Rest Ye’ we know and love today is a Victorian setting (see below).
Carols and their words continued to be disseminated, even in the 16th century when Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans tried to ban the singing of carols.
Carols were being collected and printed widely by the 19th century. And in 1880, it’s believed the by an Edward White Benson, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Many of today’s most popular carols are dignified 19th-century offerings with tuneful melodies, rich harmonies and Christmassy sounds abundant.
‘’ – an 1840 tune from . ‘’? Composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr. ‘’? – 1853 lyrics set to an older tune. The list goes on…
It's one of the best-known pieces of Christmas music. Here’s everything you need to know about the timeless carol 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'.
The lyrics for ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ were written by Methodist Charles Wesley in 1739. But the tune that's most familiar today was written by Felix .
Since then, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ has become one of the most widely sung carols in the UK – and yet, many people are unaware of the fascinating story behind it.
This carol first appeared in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems – but Charles Wesley's words were sung to a somewhat gloomy melody, rather than the joyous version we all know and love today.
What is ‘HARK! The Herald Angels Sing’ actually about?
The purpose of the carol was to explore the spiritual theme of ecotheology, linking Christ’s intention to redeem not only humankind, but nature as a whole.
The words ‘Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled’ in verse one, and ‘Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings’ in verse three represent this contrast.
Are there other adaptations of this carol?
Wesley’s original words for the carol began with the lyrics: “Hark how all the Welkin rings, Glory to the King of Kings”, before being rewritten by George Whitefield in 1754 – to begin with the couplet we know today – and again in 1782, giving us the complete text we sing now.
The tune we know today was adapted by the English composer William H. Cummings from a melody in Felix Mendelssohn's 1840 choral cantata Festgesang.
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