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Christmas Music in New England
Old New England Christmas Carols
One Horse Open Sleigh: The Story of "Jingle Bells"
CD: "New Bethlehem" - Christmas Music in New England
Popular Christmas CDs
Old New England Christmas Carols
It is not generally known that the first popular American Christmas carols were composed
in early New England.
18th Century
The composer who was most responsible for the first Christmas music
was William Billings (1746-1800), who lived his entire life in Boston and taught singing schools in various places in New England, including Stoughton, Massachusetts - home of America's oldest continuing singing society.Billings wrote what are believed to be the first Christmas hymns and carols in America during the 1770s. Here are the titles:
"Bethlehem" ( While shepherds watched their flocks by night)
"Boston" (Methinks I see a heav'nly host of angels on the wing)
"Emanuel" (As shepherds in Jewry were guarding their sheep)
"Judea" (A Virgin unspotted by Prophets foretold)
"Shiloh" (Methinks I see a heav'nly host of angels on the wing)
Other 18th New England composers of Christmas music include:
Supply Belcher (b. Stoughton, Massachusetts/ d. Farmington, Maine):
"Carol" (While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1794)
Bartholomew Brown (East Bridgewater, Massachusetts):
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
Edward French (Sharon, Massachusetts): "New Bethlehem"
(While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1799)
Some sources incorrectly credit this carol to his brother, Jacob French
Daniel Read (Hartford, Connecticut): "Sherburne"
(While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1785)
19th Century
"Joy to the World" [tune name: ANTIOCH] --
music by Lowell Mason, "Arranged from HANDEL," 1848
"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" --
words: Edmund H. Sears/ music: Richard S. Willis, 1850"O Little Town of Bethlehem" -- words: Rev. Phillips Brooks/
music: Lewis Redner, 1868
"Away in a Manger" -- words & music: James R. Murray, 1887
"A Christmas Carol" -- words & music: Charles Ives, 1894
The Story of "Jingle Bells"
There is a song associated with Christmas,
written by a Massachusetts born songwriter.
Read more atOne Horse Open Sleigh: The Story of "Jingle Bells"
by Roger L. Hall
Christmas Music From New England
"NEW BETHLEHEM" - Christmas Music in New England (AMRC 1010)
Compiled and edited by Roger Hall for the
American Music Recordings CollectionTo read how to order this special limited edition CD
only available directly from AMRC -- click here
After you have made your donation,
to insure proper delivery,
please mention this CD title and
send your mailing address to:Christmas Music in New England CD
Popular Christmas CDs
A few CDs that include popular New England Christmas carols:
One of the most beautiful popular Christmas albums was recorded in the 1950s by sublime voice of Harry Belafonte.
To order this soothing and serene CD, click this link: To Wish You A Merry Christmas
RED, WHITE and BLUE:
Christmas Hit Songs by Gene, Bing, and Elvis
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