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Christmas Songbook
Christmas Songbook
This traditional French Christmas carol (Les Anges dans nos Campagnes) is based on Luke 2:20 which
reads: “Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels,
and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them.” It was translated from French to English
by James Chadwick (1813-1882) and appeared in Crown of Jesus, 1862. The music, “Gloria (Barnes),” is a
French carol melody; arranged by Edward Shippen
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O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
(SAUDARA KEMARI DAN BERSUKA CITA)
Originally from Latin ADESTE FIDELIS
G John F. Wade’s Cantus Diversi 1751
The text to the Carol O Come All Ye Faithful was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles) and was
intended to be a hymn, it is attributed to John Wade, an Englishman. The music to O Come All Ye Faithful was
composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. The tune was first published in a collection
known as "Cantus Diversi" in 1751. In 1841 Rev. Frederick Oakley is reputed to have worked on the familiar
translation of O Come All Ye Faithful which replaced the older Latin lyrics "Adeste Fideles".
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JOY TO THE WORLD
(KESUKAAN PADA DUNIA)
Isaac Watts 1719
D G.F Handel 1742
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts
(1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was
imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Nonconformist
Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent
congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the
University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).
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HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
(DENGAR! MALAIKAT NYANYI)
Luke 2:14
F Charles Wesley 1739
4
SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT
(MALAM KUDUS)
Stille Nacht
C Franz Gruber
The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an
Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is
reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille
Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The
music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight
Mass. Silent Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time!.
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THE FIRST NOEL
D Traditional English, 17th cent.
Traditional English, 18th cent. Arr.by John Stainer
The First Noel is unknown in origin but is generally thought to be English dating back to the sixteenth
century. There is a misconception that the First Noel was French and it is believed that this is because of the
French spelling of Noel as opposed to the olde English Anglo-Saxon spelling of the word as in Nowell. After
England was captured by the Normans numerous words were adopted from the Norman French language and
Noel was re-spelt as Nowell, early printed versions of this carol use the Nowell spelling. The First Noel was first
published in 1833 when it appeared in "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a collection of seasonal carols
gathered by William B. Sandys.
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GOD REST YOU MERRY GENTLEMEN
Dm tune : traditional English.
words: traditional English Arr. by Charles W. Douglass
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen was first published in 1833 when it appeared in "Christmas Carols
Ancient and Modern," a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys. The lyrics of God Rest Ye
Merry Gentlemen are traditional olde English and are reputed to date back to the 15th century although the
author is unknown.. It is believed that this particular carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who
earned additional money during the Christmas season. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen continues to be enjoyed.
The lyrics to this simple carol are reputed to be one of the oldest carols.
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IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
music: Carol, Richard S. Willis.
A words: Edmund H. Sears
1. 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, goodwill to men
From heav’ns all-gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing!
8
WE THREE KINGS
(TIGA RAJA)
music: John Henry Hopkins Jr.
Em words: John Henry Hopkins, Jr. alt.
The famous American carol We three Kings of Orient are was written in 1857 by Rev. John Henry
Hopkins. The minister is reputed to have written the carol We three Kings of Orient are for the General
Theological Seminary in New York City as part of their Christmas pageant. The lyrics of We three Kings of Orient
are are extremly traditional which makes the latter day fashion of referring to the carol as We 3 Kings of Orient
are quite bizarre!
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O HOLY NIGHT
Em Adolphe Adam.
Chorus:
Fall on your knees!
Oh hear the angels voices!
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine!
O night, O night divine…!
"O Holy Night" ("Cantique de Noël") is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in
1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), an accomplished amateur.In the
carol, the singer recalls the birth of Jesus. It was translated into English by Unitarian minister John Sullivan
Dwight, editor of Dwight's Journal of Music in 1855 (note the abolitionist reference in the third verse: "for the
slave is our brother"), and lyrics also exist in other languages.
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WHAT CHILD IS THIS
Em William C. Dix
tune: Greensleeves, traditional English
Chorus:
This, this the Christ the king
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him loud
The babe, the son of Mary
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AWAY IN A MANGER
words: v. 1 & 2 anonymous, 1885 tune: Mueller, James Ramsey Murray
v. 3 attr. to John Thomas McFarland, 1887 harm. by Edward L. Stauff
F
Away in a manager is always the first carol that children are taught. Away in a Manger was originally
published in 1885. The publication of Away in a Manger was in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created
the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself. The
author is unknown. The music to the Away in a Manger carol was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895.
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ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY
words: Mrs. C.F. Alexander ( 1818 - 1895 )
F tune: H.J. Gauntlett
The words to the carol Once in Royal Davids city were written by Mrs. C.F. Alexander ( 1818 - 1895 )
and makes wonderful use of the English language to paint a picture of the events of the nativity. Mrs.
Alexander wrote many poems for children, chiefly on religious subjects and was the wife of the Bishop of Derry.
The music to Once in Royal Davids city was composed by H.J. Gauntlett. This carol is believed to have first been
published in the early nineteenth century.
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GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
F W. Work, Jr. (1872-1925)
3. He made me a watchman
Upon a city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
The words and lyrics of the spiritual Christmas Carol 'Go tell it to the Mountain 'are by John W. Work,
Jr. (1872-1925). John Work was famous for Folk Songs of the American Negro in Nashville, Tennessee in 1907.
He graduated from Fisk University in 1898 and became a teacher. He died on September 7th 1925 in Nashville,
the same town he was born in.
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MARY’S BOY CHILD
G Jester Hairston (1901-2000)
Chorus:
Hark now hear the angels sing, a new king’s born today
And man will live forever more, because of Christmas day
Trumpet sounds and angels sing, listen to what they say
That men will live forever more, because of Christmas Day
Jester Hairston (1901-2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. The
grandson of American slaves, Jester dedicated his life to preserving Negro Spirituals, and the history behind
them.
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O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
Phillips Brooks
G Lewis H. Redner
Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in
1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of
Palestine especially at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town of Bethlehem. His church organist Lewis
Redner (1831-1908) wrote the melody to O Little Town of Bethlehem for the Sunday school children's choir
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SHARING IS THE BEST PART
E
Chorus:
Sharing is the best part
Everyday you live
Put in love and kindness
In everything you give
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O COME, O COME EMMANUEL
From the Latin 9th Century VENI EMMANUEL
Em French Processional, 15th century
Cho:
Rejoice! Rejoice Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel
The favourite O Come, O Come Emmanuel carol was originally written in Latin text in the 12th Century.
The author of the words and composer to the music of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is unknown. It is , however
believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. The Latin was
translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851
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FELIZ NAVIDAD
C Jose Feliciano
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero Ano y Felicidad.
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero Ano y Felicidad.
"Feliz Navidad" is a Christmas song written in 1970 by the Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José
Feliciano With its simple Spanish chorus (the traditional Christmas/New Year greeting, "Feliz Navidad, próspero
año y felicidad" or "Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year" and equally simple Englishverse "I wanna wish
you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart", it has become a classic Christmas pop song in the United
States, thePhilippines, Canada and throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
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WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
G
20
DENGAR MALAIKAT NYANYI
(ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD)
F
1. Dengarlah di padang sunyi
Lagu pujian merdu
Bergemala di akgkasa
Warta keselamatan
Chorus:
Glo...ria, In excelsis Deo,
Glo...ria, In excelsis Deo.
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SAUDARA KEMARI DAN BERSUKACITA
(O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL)
G
Chorus:
Kemari sembah sujud
Kemari sembah sujud
Kemari sembah sujud Tuhanmu
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KESUKAAN PADA DUNIA
(JOY TO THE WORLD)
D
1. Kesukaan pada dunia
Tuhan sudah datang
Bri hatimu kepadanya
Nyanyilah hai orang
Nyanyilah hai orang
Nyanyi, nyanyilah hai orang
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DENGAR ! MALAIKAT NYANYI
(HARK! THE HERALD ANGEL SING)
F
1. Dengarlah malaikat nyanyi
Mulia bagi Raja
Di bri slamat atas bumi
Anak Allah lahirlah
S’kalian bangsa baik bersuka
Ikut nyanyian di surga
Yesus anak Arrahim
Jadinya di Bethlehem
Dengarlah malak nyanyi
Mulia bagi Almasih
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MALAM KUDUS
(SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT)
C
25
TIGA RAJA
(WE THREE KINGS)
Em
Chorus:
O..bintang gemilang
Bintang lambang nan terang
Tuntunlah kami di jalan
Hingga sampai tujuan
3. Ku persembahkan kemenyan
Lambang doa, lambang iman
Hormat bakti kemuliaan
Bagi kristus Tuhan
(Chorus)
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PENEBUS DATANG
Chorus
Marilah mari..bersukacita
Memuji Tuhan..Halleluia
Setahun sekali…Harilah natal
Kita raikan
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