Joy is celebrated many ways. This “call and response” carol provides a special opportunity to show what’s possible with handbells, because of consecutive phrases that are alternately forte and piano. While by the sheep we watched at night, glad tidings brought an angel bright. How great our joy! Great our joy! Joy, joy, joy! Joy, …
Tag: Christmas
Christmas is traditionally celebrated on December 25th as the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 2).
Liturgically, Christmas is twelve days in length (hence the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas"), ending on Epiphany (also known as Three Kings' Day).
Churches and celebrants who choose to be less precisely liturgical rejoice with Christmas music (and Epiphany music!) all the way through Advent as well. The important thing is to rejoice, of course.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (NOEL) – Eight handbells
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is sung to a couple of different melodies. The tune NOEL is the one more frequently used in England. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to …
Creator of the Stars of Night (CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM) – Eight handbells
The 7th century Latin hymn Creator of the Stars of Night was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1852. It’s a thoughtful plainchant fitting a quiet, clear Christmas night. Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting light, Jesu, Redeemer, save us all, And hear Thy servants when they call. Thou, grieving …
De Zak van Sinterklaas (Santa’s Bag) – Eight handbells
The legend of Santa Claus appears in many countries. In Holland, he’s known as “Sinterklaas”. The translation of the title of this song is “Santa’s bag”. “De zak van Sinterklaas Sinterklaas, Sinterklaas de zak van Sinterklaas o jongens, jongens ‘t is zo’n baas. Daar stopt hij, daar stopt hij daar stopt hij blij van zin …
The Cherry Tree Carol (CHERRY TREE CAROL) – Eight handbells
Here’s an eight-handbell arrangement of this medieval Cornish carol. The words tell of how the cherry tree willingly gave of its fruit to the Christ Child. Joseph was an old man, / An old man was he; He married sweet Mary, / The queen of Galilee. As they want a-walking, / In the garden so …
The Friendly Beasts (ORIENTIS PARTIBUS) – Eight handbells
The Friendly Beasts is sung to the medieval French melody ORIENTIS PARTIBUS. It’s a story about how the animals in Bethlehem were willing to sacrifice to make the beginning of Jesus’ life on earth easier. Jesus, our brother, strong and good, / was humbly born in a stable rude, and the friendly beasts around Him …
Hoe leit dit Kindeke (Cold is this little Child) – Eight handbells
The title of this Dutch Christmas song translates “cold is this little Child’, referring to the tradition that the Christ Child was born during the Bethlehem winter. Hoe leit dit Kindeke hier in de kou ziet eens hoe alle zijn ledekens beven ziet eens hoe dat Het weent en krijt van rouw. Na na na …
Pat-a-Pan – Eight handbells
Pat-a-Pan‘s title is onomatapoeic (“sounding like”) in nature, mimicking the sound of a drum. Later on, the lyric “tu-re-lu-re-lu” imitates the sound of a flute. The story is a bit like that of Carol of the Drum, where percussion is part of the worship of the Christ-child. Guillaume, prends ton tambourin, Toi, prends ta flûte, …
Aug 31
Los Peces en el Rio (for eight handbells)
This Spanish Christmas carol was part of our “A Carol a Day” postings a couple of years ago, but somehow it escaped official publication! It’s a lively song about how the fish in the river – “los peces en el rio” – rejoiced at the birth of Christ. Here’s where you can find our eight-bell …
Los Peces en el Rio – Eight handbells
This traditional Spanish Christmas carol has an interesting story in the lyrics: The baby Jesus has been born, and because life has its demands, Mary is described as going about her normal doings in the same say you and I would (well, except for being a parent of the Child who is the Son of …
