Do you have a favorite Christmas carol? You rarely hear my favorite one, probably because it covers quite a range of notes, making it difficult for most folks to sing.
The words were written by Josiah Holland, the founder of Scribner’s magazine, in 1872. While assembling a new Methodist Hymnal in1904, Karl P. Harrington, a Wesleyan University music professor, set the poem to music.
There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth,
For the virgin’s sweet Boy is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;
And that song from afar has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing
In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!
We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song
That comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,
And we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!
By Josiah G. Holland, Public Domain
Click here to listen to a beautiful version.
I can still hear my mother’s voice as she sang this carol!
She must have been a good singer!
Drummer Boy was always my favorite.
Oh, I love that one as well!
Beautiful, Joy! And “Silver Bells” always makes me think of my mom, Sue, singing way off key with gusto! 🥰😉🥰
With gusto!
🤣🥰🤣
It’s a new one to me, Joy. Perhaps it hasn’t crossed the Atlantic.
I hadn’t heard this carol before. My favorite is “O, Holy Night.”
I love that one as well. It also has a challenging range of notes!
Too many favorites for me. But, I can say this hymn is a new one for me. Beautiful lyrics. Merry Christmas.
To you and Michelle as well, Alan!
Beautiful, Joy. My favorite is still Silent Night.
A beautiful one, John, and easier to sing.
😊
New to me; beautiful song.
My favorite is from my high school French class, a song my French teacher taught us- Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella. I don’t know why it struck me so when I first heard it, but it did.
Oh, Kelly, I’d forgotten about that one. It’s beautiful! I found this version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKigUc9-O3E
It is indeed very pretty. Great version. 🙂
I had never heard this beautiful song, Joy. Thank you for sharing it. I really like all of the Christmas carols. My mom was named Carol because she was born on this date.
How nice to have a mother named Carol, and the reason why. Thank you, Tim!
I’m not familiar with your favorite Christmas Carol, Joy, but the hymn is wonderfully soothing to listen to. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
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