The Carols Of Christmas

From Andrew Gant, Oxford professor and renowned British composer, The Carols of Christmas is a joyous account of the history behind our favorite carols--from Advent through Epiphany. Everyone loves a carol--in the end, even Ebenezer Scrooge had a soft spot for them! They have the power to evoke a special type of mid-winter joy, like the aroma of gingerbread or the twinkle of lights on a tree. It's a kind of magic. But how did they get that magic? Gant--a choirmaster, church musician, university professor, and writer--tells the story of twenty carols, each accompanied by lyrics and music, unraveling a captivating, and often surprising, tale of great musicians and thinkers, saints and pagans, shepherds and choirboys. Along the way, Gant answers some of the biggest questions he's received about these beloved carols over the years, including: How did the most beloved carols come to be? Why do we sing the versions of carols that we do? How did these carols stand the test of time? Readers get to delve into the history of favorites like "Good King Wenceslas," "Away in a Manger," and "O, Tannenbaum," discovering along the way how "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" came to replace "Hark, how all the welkin' ring" and how Ralph Vaughan Williams applied the tune of an English folk song about a dead ox to a poem by a nineteenth-century American pilgrim to make "O Little Town of Bethlehem." A charming book that brims with anecdote, expert knowledge, and Christmas spirit, The Carols of Christmas is a fittingly joyous account of one of the best-loved musical traditions.

A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future.

Behind the Christmas songs we love to sing lie fascinating stories that will enrich your holiday celebration. Taking you inside the nativity of over thirty favorite songs and carols, Ace Collins introduces you to people you’ve never met, stories you’ve never heard, and meanings you’d never have imagined. The next time you and your family sing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," you’ll have a new understanding of its message and popular roots. You’ll discover how "Angels from the Realms of Glory," with its sublime lyrics and profound theology, helped usher in a quiet revolution in worship. You’ll learn the strange history of the haunting and powerful "O Holy Night," including the song’s surprising place in the history of modern communications. And you’ll step inside the life of Mark Lowry and find out how he came to pen the words to the contemporary classic "Mary, Did You Know?"Still other songs such as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" trace back to mysterious origins--to ninth-century monks, nameless clergy, and unknown commoners of ages past. Joining hands with such modern favorites as "White Christmas" and "The Christmas Song," they are part of the legacy of inspiration, faith, tears, love, and spiritual joy that is Christmas. From the rollicking appeal of "Jingle Bells" to the tranquil beauty of "Silent Night," the great songs of Christmas contain messages of peace, hope, and truth. Each in its own way expresses a facet of God’s heart and celebrates the birth of his greatest gift to the world--Jesus, the most wonderful Christmas Song of all.

Everyone loves a Christmas carol - in the end, even Scrooge. They have the power to summon up a special kind of midwinter mood, like the aroma of mince pies and mulled wine and the twinkle of lights on a tree. It's a kind of magic.But how did they get that magic? In Christmas Carols Andrew Gant tells the story of some twenty carols, each accompanied by lyrics and music, unravelling a captivating - and often surprising - tale of great musicians and thinkers, saints and pagans, shepherd boys, choirboys, monks and drunks. We delve into the history of such favourites as 'Good King Wenceslas', 'Away in a Manger' and 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', discovering along the way how 'Hark, the Herald angels sing' came to replace 'Hark, how all the welkin ring' and how Ralph Vaughan Williams bolted the tune of an English folk song about a dead ox to a poem by a nineteenth-century American pilgrim to make 'O little town of Bethlehem'. Christmas Carols brims with anecdote, expert knowledge and Christmas spirit. It is a fittingly joyous account of one of our best-loved musical traditions.

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A Collection of over 150 Christmas Carols arranged for voice or piano. MIDI files for each song, as well as a PDF of the entire manuscript is available here:http://acollectionofchristmascarols.comThe entire list of carols is as follows:Ad cantus lætitiæAdeste FidelesAll my heart this night rejoicesAlma Redemptoris MaterAlthough at Yule it Bloweth CoolThe Angel GabrielAngels from the Realms of GloryAngels We Have Heard on HighAngelus ad VirginemAs Lately We WatchedAs With Gladness Men of OldAuld Lang SyneAve Jesu DeusAway in a MangerThe Babe of BethlehemBlessed be that Maid MarieThe Boar's Head CarolBring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella!Carol for Christmas DayCarol for Christmas EveA Carol for Christmas EveCarol of the BellsCarol of the BirdsCarol of the ShepherdsA Child this day is bornChrist Was Born on Christmas DayChristians, Awake, Salute the Happy MornChristmas BellsChristmas DayChristmas is ComingA Christmas RoundChristmas SongChristmas Time is Come AgainChrystmasse of OldeCome Thou Long Expected JesusCome, tune your heartCome, ye loftyConditor alme siderumCongaudeat turba fideliumCorde NatusThe Coventry CarolA Cradle-Song of the Blessed VirginCreator alme siderumA day, a day of gloryDeck the HallDing Dong Merrily on HighEarth today rejoicesEs Ist Ein Ros EntsprungenThe First NoëlFlos de radice JesseThe Friendly BeastsFrom Church to ChurchFrom far awayFrom Heaven High I Come to YouFum Fum FumGaudeteGlad Christmas BellsGlorious, beauteous, golden-brightGloucestershire WassailGod loved the worldGod Rest You Merry, GentlemenGod's dear SonThe Golden CarolGood Christian Men, RejoiceGood King WenceslasHacia Belén va una burraHail! Holy Child, Lain In An Oxen MangerHark! A Herald Voice is CallingHark! The Herald Angels SingHo! Steward Bid my servantsThe Holly and the IvyHow Great Our JoyHymn for Christmas DayI Heard the Bells on Christmas DayI Saw Three ShipsIl est né le divin EnfantIn Bethlehem, that noble placeIn Dulci JubiloIn natali DominiIn terra PaxIn The Bleak Midwinter (both Darke and Holst)The IncarnationInfant Holy Infant LowlyIt Came Upon the Midnight ClearJacob's LadderJesu, hail! O God most holyJesus in the MangerJesus the Light of the WorldJingle BellsJolly Old Saint NicholasJoseph, O Dear Joseph MineJoy to the WorldKling GlöckchenLætentur CoeliLo, How a Rose E'er BloomingMake we joy now in this festThe Manger ThroneMasters in This HallMilfordMyn LykingNew Prince, New PompeNoel NouveletO Christmas TreeO Come Divine MessiahO Come, All Ye FaithfulO Come, Little ChildrenO Come, O Come, EmmanuelO Du FrohlicheO Holy NightO Little Town of BethlehemO Magnum MysteriumO TannenbaumOf the Father's Love BegottenOn Jordan's BankOn the Birthday of the LordOnce in Royal David's CityOrientis PartibusPast Three A ClockPat-a-PanPersonent HodiePuer Natus in BethlehemPuer nobis nasciturQuem PastoresRing out Wild BellsRise Up, Shepherds, And FollowRiu Riu ChiuThe Sans Day CarolThe Seven Joys of MaryShepherds! Shake Off Your Drowsy SleepShilohSilent NightSleep, Holy BabeThe Son of God is born for allStill Still StillStille NachtThe Story of the ShepherdThe Stranger StarSussex CarolSweet was the song the Virgin sungThere's a Song in the AirThis Endris NightTo us is born a little ChildTo Us This Morn a Child is BornTollite HostiasThe Truth from AboveTwas in a Cave on Christmas MornTwas in the winter coldThe Twelve Days of ChristmasUnto us is born a SonUp Good Christen Folk and ListenVeni, Veni, EmmanuelThe Virgin and ChildA Virgin UnspottedWachet AufThe Waits' SongThe Wassail SongWatchman, Tell Us of the NightWe Three Kings of Orient AreWe Wish You a Merry ChristmasThe Wexford CarolWhat Child is This?When Angelick Host EntunedWhen Christ Was Born of Mary FreeWhile Shepherds Watched Their Flocks