Handel wrote the music for this Christmas carol. The first eight notes form a descending scale, which turns out to be the change ring pattern “Rounds” upside down. So… our eight-bell arrangement contains a bit of English bell ringing tradition in that some of the best-known change ring patterns are included in the score. Joy …
Category: Christmas
The First Nowell (THE FIRST NOWELL) – Eight handbells
We hear that the tune for this carol was from W. Sandy’s Christmas Carols, published in 1833, and arranged by none other than John Stainer (who is well-known for his wonderful work “God So Loved the World”). The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In …
Angels, from the Realms of Glory (REGENT SQUARE) – Eight handbells
Angels came from heaven to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s amazing to compare how it must have been in God’s glorious presence with the humble stable of Bethlehem. Yet they came, and they marveled! Angels from the realms of glory / Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story / …
Wassail Song / Here We Come A-Caroling – Eight handbells
The Wassail Song has a bit of history behind it. The Old English “Waes Hail” is a word that expresses hope for a good cider apple harvest… and so a wassail is a drink of hot mulled cider! Okay… maybe this isn’t completely consistent with many of the other Christmas carols we sing, but a …
Sussex Carol / On This Night All Christians Sing (SUSSEX CAROL) – Eight handbells
This traditional English Christmas Sussex Carol is also known as “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing”. The arrangement we see in our hymnals is almost certainly the one written by Ralph Vaughan Williams… but the unharmonized tune is far older than that. On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear what news those angels bring; …
Once in Royal David’s City (IRBY) – Eight handbells
There are a number of hymns where the lyrics preceded the music by being written as a poem. Once in David’s Royal City was written by Cecil Frances Alexander, and a year after its publication Henry John Gauntlett composed the melody IRBY that we know and love. Historical footnote: Mrs. Alexander wasn’t a one-hit wonder… …
O Come, All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELES) – Eight handbells
The celebration of Christmas centers on the promise that God is always working toward His ultimate triumph. O Come, All Ye Faithful draws us not just to the manger, but to the everlasting future of Christ’s kingdom. O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and …
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (CAROL) – Eight handbells
Edmund Sears wrote the words to It Came Upon the Midnight Clear in 1849, and it’s sung on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (just with different tunes). This arrangement is to the American melody, CAROL, composed by Richard Storrs Willis. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending …
Good King Wenceslas (TEMPEST ADEST FLORIDUM) – Eight handbells
The ancient carol Good King Wenceslas is about a king who resolutely sought to make one impoverished subject’s life a bit better on a terribly cold winter night. It’s all about giving in love for others, and while the lyrics don’t directly mention Christmas, its story tells of what Christmas is all about. Good King …
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (GABRIEL’S MESSAGE) – Eight handbells
Our Christmas carols come from many places and times. This one originated in the Basque country between Spain and France, and has a lovely, mysterious feel. The Angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; ‘All hail,’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria! “For …
