TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023 CHRISTMAS HYMNS

 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023 CHRISTMAS HYMNS

I’m researching Christmas Hymns for the next few days.  Today, “Hark the Herald Angels sing.

”In this Christmas classic, the angels are hearkening to the birth of Christ, the newborn king. The song tells an abbreviated but very spirited version of the Gospel story.

 The words "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" were written by Charles Wesley, the brother of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. He was inspired by the sounds of London church bells while walking to church on Christmas Day. The poem first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739 with the opening line of "Hark, how the welkin (heaven) rings." Wesley's evangelist colleague, George Whitefield, altered it to the familiar opening line over the author's protests in 1753.

The tune was originally composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 for the second chorus, "Gott ist Licht" ("God is Light"), of the cantata Festgesang ("Festival Song"). Festgesang was written by the German composer to commemorate Johann Gutenberg and the invention of printing. Mendelssohn died in 1847, and in 1855, Dr. William Cummings, an enthusiast of the German composer, put the words and music together even though Mendelssohn had made it clear that his music was not to be used for sacred purposes.

Wesley also envisaged his words being sung to the same tune as his Easter hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." However, Mendelssohn's tune is generally used today.

"Hark!" was a popular term when this song was written. It was used before speaking to let the listener know that an important message is forthcoming - a modern equivalent would be "Listen Up!" In this case, the angels have important news to share, so they preface it with "Hark!"‘Herald” is also a term not frequently used today. 

A “herald” is defined as “an official messenger bringing news.”  So, the angels were bringing the news that Jesus had been born.

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Charles Wesley was a prolific hymn writer, penning over 6000 hymns, more than any other male writer. (Fanny Crosby wrote 8000). Wesley had the ability to express sublime truth in simple ways, his motivation in writing his hymns being to teach the poor and illiterate good doctrine. His brother, John Wesley, said that Charles' hymnal was the best theological book in existence. It is said Methodism was born in song, and Charles was the chief songwriter. Among the hymns Charles Wesley wrote were "O For A Thousand Tongues," "Love Divine All Loves Excelling," and "Jesus, Lover of my Soul."
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Here is the song as normally sung:
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
"Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem
"Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

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Some of the theology includes being “born again” (born to give them a second birth). 

Likewise “Prince of Peace” reflects Isaiah’s mention of the “Prince of Peace”Isaiah 9:7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I might quietly sing the bass part.  I grew up in a congregation where all the hymns in the hymnal had four-part harmony - and I sang bass.  
LOVE WINS
LOVE TRANSFORMS
KAREN ANNE WHITE ©, DECEMBER 17, 2023