MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2023 - CHRISTMAS / JOY TO THE WORLD

 MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2023 - JOY TO THE WORLD

IT IS CHRISTMAS DAY - 2023. Despite the uncertainty of the actual day Jesus was born, this date has been accepted for centuries. We live with it!!!

Today, I’m looking at a festive hymn - Joy to the World.  

 

“According to church history, Isaac Watts was one of the most prolific and celebrated creators of hymns. However, his most famous creation, “Joy to the World,” was born of coincidence rather than desire. In 1719, Watts published “The Psalms of David,” a collection of poems where each verse was based on a psalm. But, instead of translating the original “Old Testament” texts, he made some subtle adjustments. His poems referred more explicitly to the works of Jesus, thus seeking inspiration from the New Testament.”

George Fredrick Handel is attributed as a music writer, although “in 1836, Lowell Mason composed a riveting melody for this second part and combined with its popularity in the church. “Joy to the World” started its journey into the music stratosphere.

Of note to me, the first stanza, “Joy to the World, the Lord is come,” is a scale - from the top note (generally a “D”) to the bottom note (also a “D”). (If I play it on the piano,  I make it into a C scale - no sharps or flats!!!)

The last part of the stanza has a repeated section (repeated three times)

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow.
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.

*****

I’m picturing a large traditional church - with a prominent center aisle - and the organist setting the volume at “high.”  (And … the bass setting to full high - so the stained glass windows will vibrate!!!)

Let it roll and grow!!! (And, let that JOY of Christmas rule in your hearts!!!)

LOVE WINS
LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © DECEMBER 25, 2023

(one more day of hymns - but a hymn that isn’t entirely appropriate!!!)