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Christmas Music in New England
NEW BETHLEHEM (1799)
Early American carol by Edward French, 1761-1845
from The Stoughton Musical Society's Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (1878)
One Horse Open Sleigh: The Story of "Jingle Bells"
A New England Christmas CD
Other Christmas CDs
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It is not generally known that the first popular American Christmas carols were composed in 18th century New England.
The composer who was most responsible for this music was William Billings (1746-1800), who lived his entire life in Boston and taught singing schools in various locations including Stoughton, Massachusetts in 1774.
Billings wrote what are believed to be the first Christmas carols in America during the 1770s. The titles are:
"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)
"Shiloh" (Methinks I see a heav'nly host of angels on the wing)
Other 18th New England composers of Christmas music include:
Supply Belcher: "Carol" (While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1794)
Bartholomew Brown: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
Edward French: "New Bethlehem"
(While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1799)
-- published in Ancient Harmony Revived (3rd edition, Boston: Perkins & Whipple,
1850). Some sources incorrectly credit this carol to his brother, Jacob French.
Daniel Read: "Sherburne" (While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1785)Some of the most popular 19th century Christmas carols were written by New Englanders. They include:
"Joy to the World" -- music: Lowell Mason,"Arranged from HANDEL"
[based on two melodies from MESSIAH]
-- published in The National Psalmist; A Collection of the Most Popular and Useful Psalm amnd Hymn Tunes; Together with a Great Variety oof New Tunes, Anthems, Sentences, and Chants, by Lowell Mason and George James Webb (Boston: Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason, 1848). Also in this music collection is the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's MESSIAH.
"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" --
words: Edmund H. Sears/ music: Richard S. Willis, 1850
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" -- words: Phillips Brooks/ music: Lewis Redner, 1868
"Away in a Manger" -- words & music: James R. Murray, 1887
"A Christmas Carol" -- words & music: Charles Ives, 1894
All of these carols are featured on the CD listed below titled,
Christmas Music From New England
-- Roger Lee Hall, Director, American Music Recordings Archive
And there is another song associated with Christmas and written by a Massachusetts born songwriter...
One Horse Open Sleigh: The Story of "Jingle Bells"
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Christmas Music From New England
(AMRA 14)This CD contains 24 carols, hymns and songs in New England from the 1770s to 1980s, and performed by various singers and choruses. Half of the music titles were composed, edited or arranged by Roger Lee Hall, who was a guest on a Christmas Eve radio special in 1992.
+ = Christmas Eve radio specialTrack titles (click on the titles with links to hearReal Audio samples):
1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel -- arranged by Roger Lee Hall, 1977
2. Prepare the Royal Highway -- arranged by Roger Lee Hal, 1977
3. He Whom Shepherds Once Came Praising -- arranged by Roger Lee Hall, 1978
4. +Jingle Bells -- words & music by James Pierpont, 1857(played by music box)
5. +Christmas Eve radio program (guest: Roger Lee Hall)
6. +Jingle Bells -- from 1943 radio broadcast
7. +Radio program continued
8. +Hail to the Joyous Day -- words: Royall Tyler/ music: Roger Lee Hall, 1977
9. +The Dark Night is Ending -- words: John Greenleaf Whittier/ music: Roger Lee Hall, 1988
10. + Radio program continued
11. +Joy to the World -- Lowell Mason, 1839 (1940s radio broadcast)
12. +Radio program continued
13. +It Came Upon the Midnight Clear --words: Edmund Sears/ music: Richard Willis, 1850
14. +O Little Town of Bethlehem -- words: Phillips Brooks/ music: Lewis Redner, 1868
15. Judea -- words & music by William Billings, 1778
16. Sherburne -- music by Daniel Read, 1785
17. Carol -- music by Supply Belcher, 1794
18. New Bethlehem -- music by Edward French, 1799
19. We Three Kings of Orient Are -- music by John H. Hopkins, 1857
20. Rise Up, Shepherds and Follow -- Afro-American spiritual, arranged by Roger Lee Hall,1979
21. Natal Night -- Shaker poem/ music by Roger Hall, 1979
22. Leaping and Dancing -- Catalan carol, arranged by Roger Lee Hall, 1979
23. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! -- Bartholomew Brown, arranged by RogerLee Hall,1979
24. The Prince of Peace -- Shaker tune, arranged by Roger Lee Hall, 1981
25. A Christmas Carol-- words & music by Charles Ives, 1894
26a. Away in a Manger I -- words & music by James R. Murray, 1887/ edited by Roger Lee Hall
26b. Away in a Manger II -- music by William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895/ edited by Roger Lee Hall
27. Silent Night -- English translation by Rev. John Young, 1863
28. How Lovely Shines the Morning Star -- music by George W. Chadwick, 1909To order this enjoyable CD,
Christmas Music From New England,
go to the
Here are a few other recommended CDs with New England Christmas music:
Joy of Angels:
Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and the New Year
Christmas in Early America: 18th Century Carols and Anthems
(The Columbus Consort)
Carols From the Old & New Worlds, Vol. 1
- Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier, directorChristmas Caroling Through The Ages -
with The Gregg Smith Singers & Friends
A few CDs that include popular New England Christmas carols:
One of the most beautiful popular Christmas albums was recorded in the 1950s by the sublime voice of Harry Belafonte.
To order this soothing and serene CD, click here:
Red, White and Blue: Christmas Hit Songs by Gene, Bing, and Elvis
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American Music Preservation.com
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A Century of American Songs (1759-1859)
A Century of American Songs (1861-1961)
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and The New Year
Red, White and Blue:
Christmas Hit Songs
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