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Christmas Music in New England
NEW BETHLEHEM (1799)
music by Edward French from Massachusetts
New England Christmas Carols
One Horse Open Sleigh: The Story of "Jingle Bells"
New England Christmas CDs
It is not generally known that the first popular American Christmas music was 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 during the 1770s. The titles are: "Judea" (A Virgin unspotted) and "Shiloh" (also known as "The Shepherd's Carol"). Billings also wrote several Christmas hymns, including one titled: "Bethlehem ( While shepherds watched their flocks by night)."
Other 18th New England composers of Christmas music include:
Supply Belcher: "Carol"
Bartholomew Brown: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
Edward French: "New Bethlehem"
Daniel Read: "Sherburne"Some of the most popular 19th century Christmas carols were written by New Englanders.
They include:"Joy to the World" -- Lowell Mason, 1839 ( based on two passages 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: Christmas Music From New England.
And there is another song associated by Christmas and written by a New Englander...
The Story of "Jingle Bells"
By Roger Hall
The most often recorded song with a winter theme is "The One Horse Open Sleigh" (sheet music cover shown at left). Today it is known as "Jingle Bells."
The year 2007 marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of this song written by James S. Pierpont.
Pierpont was born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1822 and he died in Winter Haven, Florida in 1893.
He had a rather unusual life, coming from a New England Unitarian family who were against slavery. Yet, James Pierpont moved to the South where he was organist in a church in Savannah, Georgia. Against his family's wishes, he supported the Confederate cause, writing several songs in support, including "Strike for the South" and "We Conquer or Die."
He reportedly wrote his popular winter song for his father's Sunday School class for Thanksgiving. It proved so popular that it was sung again at Christmas time. One of Pierpont's friends called the song "a merry little jingle."
These are the original lyrics and spellings for the first two of the four verses:
1. Dashing thro' the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh,
O'er the hills we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob tail ring,Making spirits bright,
Oh what sport to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.Chorus:
Jingle bells, Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what joy it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh. [repeat four lines]2. A day or two ago
I thought I take a ride
And soon Miss Fannie Bright
Was seated by my side,
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seem'd his lot
He got into a drifted bank
And we, we got up sot.Chrous:
Jingle bells, Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what joy it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh. [repeat all four lines]
After he wrote the song Pierpont paid little attention to it until the Salem Evening News printed a story about it in 1864. Then he accepted credit for writing "Jingle Bells." There has been some speculation that Pierpont borrowed lines from a Stephen Foster minstrel song but that is unproven.
James Pierpont's uncle was the famous wealthy New York financier, John Piepont Morgan.
Though he died in Florida (ironically in the same city where the Boston Red Sox used to have their spring training camp), James S. Pierpont was buried in Savannah, Georgia in Laurel Grove Cemetery. There was a marker placed in Troup Square in 1985 to honor him.
Did Pierpont write his song in Medford or Savannah? Both places make claim to the song's origin. Though he was buried in Savanah, it seems most likely that he wrote the song when he was in Medford. It was first published by Oliver Ditson in Boston in 1857.
"Jingle Bells" became one of the most popular songs heard at Christmas time. It was even included on old music boxes and other mechanical music devoces.
But when did it become popular in our time?
That happened with the spread of radio and records which allowed the song to be heard nationwide.
Among the first recordings were by the Benny Goodman Orchestra in 1935, and by the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1941.
But it was Bing Crosby with The Andrews Sisters who made the song the most popular when they recorded it in 1943. This is the record that is still heard today during the Christmas season.
One hundred fifty years after it was published there are millions of fans who know and love this song, even though it makes no mention of Christmas in its lyrics. Yet it does evoke what most people think is the nostalgic Christmas from the past -- a cold winter scene riding in a one horse open sleigh. And don't forget that wonderful refrain.
Come join in and sing the chorus...
Jingle bells, Jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh!
--much of the above information was gathered from these books
-
American Christmas Classics - Ronald M. Clancy (2001) -- a beautifully illustrated book.
-
Christmas in New England by Amy Whorf McGuiggan (2006) -- a fascinating read with good information.
-
Christmas Songs Made in America: Favorite Holiday Melodies and the Stories of Their Origin by Albert J. Menendez and Shirley C. Menendez (1999) -- full of fascinating facts and the best source for information.
-
Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins (2001) -- less details but still interesting.
Christmas Music From New England
There are 24 carols, hymns and songs on this CD performed by various singers and choruses, compiled and edited by musicologist and composer Roger Hall, who was a guest on a Christmas Eve radio special focusing on Christmas music in New England.
+ = featured on the Christmas Eve radio specialTrack titles (click on the links to hear audio samples):
1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel -- arranged by Roger Hall, 1977
2. Prepare the Royal Highway -- arranged by Roger Hal, 1977
3. He Whom Shepherds Once Came Praising -- arranged by Roger Hall, 1978
4. +Jingle Bells -- words & music by James Pierpont, 1857(played by music box)
5. +Hail to the Joyous Day -- words: Royall Tyler/ music: Roger Hall, 1977
6. +The Dark Night is Ending -- words: John Greenleaf Whittier/ music: Roger Hall, 1988
7. +Joy to the World -- arranged by Lowell Mason, 1839
8. +It Came Upon the Midnight Clear --words: Edmund Sears/ music: Richard Willis, 1850
9. +O Little Town of Bethlehem -- words: Phillips Brooks/ music: Lewis Redner, 1868
10. Judea -- words & music by William Billings, 1778
11. Sherburne -- music by Daniel Read, 1785
12. Carol -- music by Supply Belcher, 1794
13. New Bethlehem -- music by Edward French, 1799
14. We Three Kings of Orient Are -- music by John H. Hopkins, 1857
15. Rise Up, Shepherds and Follow -- Afro-American spiritual, arranged by Roger Hall,1979
16. Natal Night -- Shaker poem/ music by Roger Hall, 1979
17. Leaping and Dancing -- Catalan carol, arranged by Roger Hall, 1979
18. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! -- Bartholomew Brown, arranged by Roger Hall,1979
19. The Prince of Peace -- Shaker tune, arranged by Roger Hall, 1981
20. A Christmas Carol-- words & music by Charles Ives, 1894
21. Away in a Manger I -- words & music by James R. Murray, 1887/ edited by Roger Hall
22. Away in a Manger II -- music by William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895/ edited by Roger Hall
23. Silent Night -- English translation by Rev. John Young, 1863
24. How Lovely Shines the Morning Star -- music by George W. Chadwick, 1909To order this enjoyable CD-R of rare and familiar Christmas music,
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
Carols From the Old & New Worlds, Vol. 1 -- Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier, director
Christmas Caroling Through The Ages - with The Gregg Smith Singers & Friends
A few CDs that include popular New England Christmas carols:
Red, White and Blue: Christmas Hit Songs by Gene, Bing, and Elvis
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