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by Dorothy Sollars
Art by James Teason
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Out
nce again Christendom raises us voice and
sings, "Joy to the world, the Lord has
come . . ." This hymn and scores of other
joyous phrases and inspiring melodies help us
express our feelings on the anniversary of
Christ's birth. But where did the phrases originate,
and who set them down to music? The
answers are Christmas stories in themselves.
"Joy to the World" is the oldest of our hymns,
based on David's writings long before the birth of
Christ and found in the 98th Psalm. Isaac Watts,
. father of many English hymns, adapted the psalm
to Christmastide and published it in a book in
1719. Handel later wrote the stirring music.
Watts hoped his hymn would help neighbors and
friends proclaim their love for the Lord. He had no
idea he had given the entire Christian world a
cornerstone of its Nativity music.
The same humble beginning marked the birth of
"Silent Night, Holy Night." Father Joseph Mohr
and other churchmen were planning a special
Christmas program for the town of Oberndorf in
the Austrian Alps. Father Mohr felt that amid
the pomp and color some simple words of
praise should be dedicated to the Christ Child.
In a short time, he jotted down the verse of
"Silent Night" and gave it to church organist
Franz Gruber who composed the music just as
effortlessly. On Christmas morning, the charming
simplicity of their work shone like the star of
Bethlehem in the Christmas celebration, and
within a few years "Silent Night" became one of
Europe's most popular hymns.
History is vague about the origin of "The First
Noel" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" ("Adeste
Fidelis"). The latter, probably some 250 years old,
may have been processional music used by monks
marching to midnight Mass in French cathedrals.
Both the French and English claim to have
originated "Noel," and its history may date back
to the Norman conquest.
Leading church figures also contributed to our
wealth of Christmas music. Martin Luther, a
versatile musician who believed strongly in
celebrating the Nativity in the home, wrote the
lullaby carol, "Away in the Manger."
Charles Wesley, brother of Methodist founder
John, wrote the words to "Hark, the Herald Angels
Sing" and many other lasting hymns. He began
writing religious music after being inspired by a
group of Moravians singing the Lord's praises on a
voyage across the Atlantic.
One of our latest carols, an American product,
came when Phillips Brooks, a leading preacher of
the late 1800s, visited Bethlehem on Christmas Eve
and attended services in the Church of the
Nativity. He never forgot the experience and
later wrote "Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem,"
which so impressed his children's choir they
wanted music for it.
Louis Redner, a well-known composer, promised
to provide the music by the following Sunday.
However, his usually fertile, imagination went
blank. On Saturday, tired and discouraged, he fell
into bed, certain he had failed Brooks and the
children. Early in the morning, he suddenly woke,
a lovely melody haunting his consciousness. The
hymn was performed hours later and has been a
favorite ever since.
The inspiration that has given the world its
Christmas carols has never been confined to one
era or one nation. Like the Babe it glorifies, it has
been for all peoples and all times.
From universal origins have come the joyous songs that herald the birth of Christ.
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