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;
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our Saviour King’s own birth.
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from sin He set us free
All for to gain our liberty.
Now sin depart, behold His grace,
Everlasting life comes in its place,
And soon we shall its terror see
And poor and rich must conquered be
Then out of darkness we see light,
Which makes all angels to sing this night
“Glory to God and peace to men
Both now and evermore. Amen.”
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of Sussex Carol/On This Night All Christians Sing provides an opportunity to play as a two-bells-each trio. Another possibility is to play as a duet where one ringer plays four bells and the other (perhaps a younger/newer player!) plays two bells.
The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.
Bells used: Bb5, C6, D6, Eb6, F6, G6
Key: Bb major
Church Calendar: Christmas
Hymn tune: SUSSEX CAROL
Find metrically-matched hymn texts
| Six Handbells with Piano Accompaniment: | ||
| Score Package: | $10.00 US | |
| Piano Accompaniment MP3: | $4.00 US | |
Also available for 8 handbells, and handbells (2 octaves, Level 3).
Purchasing this 6-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.
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