Friday, December 3, 2021 by Mary O'Connor | holiday

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels we have heard on high
 Sweetly singing o’er the plains
 And the mountains in reply
 Echoing their joyous strains

CHORUS:
 Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
 Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
 Why your joyous strains prolong?
 What the gladsome tidings be
 Which inspire your heavenly song? ChorusCome to Bethlehem and see
 Him Whose birth the angels sing;
 Come, adore on bended knee,
 Christ the Lord, the newborn King. ChorusSee Him in a manger laid
 Jesus Lord of heaven and earth;
 Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
 With us sing our Savior's birth. Chorus

This is a traditional French carol (Les Anges dans nos Campagnes) that was translated into English by Bishop James Chadwick.

This carol commemorates the story of the birth of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Luke, in which shepherds outside Bethlehem encounter a multitude of angels singing and praising the newborn child.

In 2009, Andrea Bocelli and David Foster collaborated to produce a Christmas album with a number of other music legends. This is "Angels We Have Heard on High" with choir and orchestra.

The Piano Guys, Peter Hollens, David Archuleta, and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir get together to sing "Angels We Have Heard On High"

Tweet

Thursday, December 2, 2021 by Mary O'Connor | holiday

Joy To The World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come !

Let earth receive her King.

Isaac Watts wrote the words to "Joy to the World" in 1719, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The hymn originally glorified Christ's triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating His first coming. Only the second half of Watts' lyrics are still used today.

The music was adapted and arranged to Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody which was then believed to have originated from Handel. The name "Antioch" is generally used for the hymn tune.

As of the late 20th century, "Joy to the World" was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.

There are versions of Joy to the World available at the O'Connor Music Studio for any level of playing, starting with Pre-Reading, all the way up through Advanced and duets.

Tweet

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 by Mary O'Connor | holiday

I've always liked Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride as a secular Christmas song :)  

It's not technically a Christmas song since the words never mention Christmas but it's often played now so it seems like a way to ease into the season. 

Anderson had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946;  he finished the work in February 1948.  Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter's day with another person, were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950. 

The orchestral version was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra. The song was a hit record and has become the equivalent of a signature song for the orchestra. 

A fun arrangement has been made for piano duet.  I have copies here for loan and it's available on amazon  (of course! What isn't?) and I have copies available at the studio.

Tweet