This is Part II of my hymn project. You can see an introduction with my Advent Hymn post here. Here are examples of “the best” (most selections are great, some are not because it is all I could find) of each Christmas Hymn in the 1982 Episcopal Church Hymnal. I have included some bonus recordings, largely of the hymns sung in popular tunes that differ from what is in the 1982 Hymnal. Because King’s College, Cambridge is most famous for its Advent and Christmas music (via Lessons and Carols), many of the recordings are from that choir. If you are going to watch just one, please watch #83 O Come Let Us Adore Him. This video has been one of my favorite music/liturgy videos of all times. I used it frequently as an example of the best of Anglican choirs, liturgy, vestments, ceremonial, and architecture.

Key: Asterisks *= “Must listen” recordings; (Tune Name) [Lyric Writer or Translator]

#77 From East To West, From Shore to Shore (Vom Himmell) [Caelius Sedulius- 5th Century]
#78 O Little Town of Bethlehem (Forest Green-V. Williams) [Philips Brooks 1835-1893]
#79 O Little Town of Bethlehem (St Louis) [Philips Brooks 1835-1893]
#80 From Heaven Above To Earth I Come (Von Himmel Hoch) [Martin Luther 1483-1546]
#81 Lo, How A Rose e’er Blooming (Es ist ein Ros) [15th Century Germany]
#82 Of The Father’s Love Begotten (Divinum Mysterium) [Marcus Prudentius 384-410] [1861 lyrics]
*(Bonus) Of The Father’s Heart Begotten (Divinum Mysterium) [Marcus Prudentius 384-410] [1906 lyrics]
*#83 O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis) [John Francis Wade 1711-1786]
#84 Love Came Down at Christmas (Gartan)[Christina Rossetti 1830-1894]
#85 O Savior Of Our Fallen Race (Christe, Redemptor Ominum-Plainsong Mode 1) [Latin 6th Century]

This is the ONLY example of this tune I found!

#86 O Savior of the Fallen Race (Gonfalon Royal) [Latin 6th Century]
(Bonus) O Savior Of Our Fallen Race (Getty’s Version) [Latin 6th Century]
*#87 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn) [Charles Wesley 1707-1799]
#88 Sing, O Sing, This Blessed Morn (England’s Lane) [Christopher Wordsworth 1807-1885]

This is all I could find!

#89 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Carol) [Edmund Sears 1810-1876]
#90 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Noel) [Edmund Sears 1810-1876]
#91 Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (Ermuntre dich) (harm. J.S. Bach) [Johann Rist 1607-1667]
#92 On This Day Earth Shall Ring (Personent hodie) [Piae Cantiones 1582]
#93 Angels, From The Realms of Glory (Regent Square) [James Montgomery 1771-1854]
#94 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night (Winchester Old) [Nahum Tate 1625-1715]
#95 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night (Hampton) [Nahum Tate 1625-1715]

No example found

#96 Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria) [French Carol, translation James Chadwick 19th C)
(Bonus) Angels We Have Heard On High (Howard Gospel Choir)

🙂

#97 Dost Thou In A Manger Lie (Dies est laetitiae) [Jean Mauburn 1460-1503]
#98 Unto Us A Boy Is Born! (Puer nobis nascitur) [Latin Carol 15th C, trans. Percy Dearmer]
#99 Go Tell It On The Mountain (Go Tell It On The Mountain) [Afro-American Spiritual 19th Cent)
#100 Joy To The World! (Antioch- George Frederic Handel) [Issac Watts 1674-1748]
#101 Away In A Manger (Cradle Song) [Traditional Carol]
(Bonus) Away In A Manger (Cradle Song) [Traditional Carol]
*#102 Once In Royal David’s City (Irby) [Cecil Alexander 19th C. and James McCrady 20th C.]
#103 A Child Is Born In Bethlehem (Puer Natus in Bethlehem) [Latin 14th Century]

Only a Latin example can be found in this tune

#104 A Stable Lamp Is Lighted (Andújar) [Richard Wilbur 1921]
#105 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (God Rest You Merry) [London Carol 18th C.]
#106 Christians, Awake, Salute The Happy Morn (Yorkshire) [John Byrom 1692-1763]
#107 Good Christian Friends [Men], Rejoice (In Dulci Jubilo) [John Mason Neale 1818-1866]
#108 Now Yield We Thanks and Praise (Was frag’ ice each Der Welt– Bach) [Howard Robbins 1876-1952]
#109 The First Nowell (The First Nowell) [English Carol 17th C.]
#110 The Snow Lay On The Ground (Venite Adoremus) [Unknown 19th C]
#111 Silent Night (Stille Nacht) [Joseph Mohr 1792-1848]
(Bonus) Silent Night (In Original German)
#112 In The Bleak Midwinter (Cranham) [Christina Rossetti 1830-1894]
#113 Dueremete Niño Lindo (A La Ru- Hispanic Folk Melody) [Trans. John Robb 1892]
#114 ‘Twas In The Moon Of Wintertime (Une June Pucelle– French Folk) [Jesse Middleton 1872-1960]
(Bonus) ‘Twas In The Moon Of Wintertime (Huron Carol) [Jesse Middleton 1872-1960]
#115 What Child Is This (Greensleeves) [William Dix 1837-1898]
(Bonus) Handel’s Messiah (selections)
(Bonus) First Television Broadcast of Nine Lessons and Carols (King’s College, Cambridge) [BBC]

King’s College, Cambridge made Lessons And Carols popular worldwide, first through annual BBC Radio and then through Television in 1954.

(Bonus) 1994 Nine Lessons and Carols (King’s College, Cambridge) [BBC]
(Bonus) O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel) [Placide Cappeau 1847]
Categories: Music

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