Bach's Christmas Carol (Johann Sebastian Bach)
See also: The popular and anthologised version by Mendelssohn, adapted by William H. Cummings
Music files
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- CPDL #13294:
(pdf 0.9Mb) 
(MP3 1.9Mb) 
(MIDIfile 11Kb)
- Editor: Nigel Poole (submitted 2006-12-26). Score information: A4, 6 pages, 986 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: adapted from the Gavotte in Orchestral Suite 4, the key has been lowered from D to G and notes redistributed to suit voices, and an introduction added (borrowed from 8 bars before the end), otherwise Bach's music remains intact. The MP3 is a live performance by the Calgary Boys Choir of Canada.
General Information
Title: Bach's Christmas Carol
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach arr. Nigel Poole
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carol
Language: English
Instruments: Piano
First published: 2006
Description: After noticing melodic and harmonic similarities between the Gavotte from J. S. Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D and Mendelssohn's popular carol, Hark! the herald angels sing, I became convinced Mendelssohn must have adapted Bach's music for this carol. I thought it would be an interesting exercise to create an 'original Bach version' of Hark! the herald by setting the words of the carol to the music of Bach's Gavotte, in an arrangement for choir and keyboard. Bach's Christmas Carol is the result. - Nigel Poole, Canberra, Australia, 2006.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give them second birth.
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new born King!"