I love to hear and sing sacred and classic Christmas carols. You may not know that singing traditional Christmas carols are thought to have begun with the St. Francis of Assisi's Nativity plays in the 13th century. With the invention of the printing press in 1450, copies of sheet music could be distributed widely. I love to learn the back story of many of our Christmas carols. Here are of few of my favorite. If you know of others, please share.?
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear?was written as a poem in 1849 by Edmund Sears, a Unitarian pastor in Wayland, Mass. It was adapted by American composer Richard Storrs Willis in 1850 and set to a melody called "Carol." It is thought to have first been sung in Sear's home on Christmas eve and the words are the composer's response to the ending of the Mexican-American War.?
- Good King Wenceslas?was published in 1853 as a hymn written by John Mason Neale. This carol highlights the pious and virtuous life of the beloved ruler?Wenceslaus I Duke of Bohemia, who was assassinated. The carol was changed to "King" when Holy Roman Emperor Otto I posthumously gave him the title of King. King Wenceslas is considered the patron saint of the Czech Republic.
- We Three Kings?was written by journalist-turned-clergyman John Henry Hopkins in 1857. He composed this hymn for a Christmas pageant being performed in New York City and designed it so that three male voices would each sing a?solo?verse in order to correspond with the three kings. When he wrote the hymn, he served as the rector of?Christ Episcopal Church?in?Williamsport, Pennsylvania.??
- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day?was written as the poem "Christmas Bells," written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863. It was later set to music in 1872 by English composer John Baptiste Calkin. Longfellow was depressed. His beloved wife had recently died in an accidental fire. His oldest son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, joined the?Union Army?without his father's blessing and had recently been severely wounded in battle. He wrote the poem while listening to the Christmas Day church bells. The refrain "peace on Earth, goodwill to men" is a reference to the?King James Version?of?Luke 2:14.
