This edition was prepared by Nigel Poole — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Bach's Christmas Carol
Staff Notation • Sacred, Christmas
Preview
0
0
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
Bach's Christmas Carol by Johann Sebastian Bach — Lyrics
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.
Read full lyrics
About Bach's Christmas Carol
This anthem for SATB voices draws on a familiar Christmas text, here sung in English. The music opens with a clear, homophonic statement of the carol's opening melody, establishing its joyful and celebratory character. Bach weaves the voices together in a way that highlights the text's message of peace and divine reconciliation. The composer's mastery is evident in the way the contrapuntal lines support the unfolding narrative of Christ's birth and its significance for humanity, building to moments of profound reflection and exultation.
