Church Music: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Another favorite bit of doctrinal church music is the Christmas hymn "Hark the Herald Angels  Sing."  Being one of those people who listens to Christmas carols anytime between December 1 and September 30, the hymns is a constant reminder of the miracle of the Incarnation.

Charles Wesley published the original words to the hymn in 1739 in a series of 10 stanzas of 4 lines each.  Wesley paired with the words with a stately melody, reflecting the hymn's weighty doctrinal content.  After Wesley's death, George Whitefield altered the language and structure of the stanzas into the form we know today.  He also matched the words with today's familiar melody which he borrowed from a cantata by Felix Mendelssohn.

Compared to other songs, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" has undergone significant revision, but it still expresses the truth of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, inseparably united in one Person forever.

Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:
hail, the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace:
hail, the Sun of Righteousness.
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
fix in us thy humble home;
rise, the woman's conquering seed,
bruise in us the serpent's head;
Adam's likeness now efface
stamp Thine image in its place.
Second Adam from above
reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

And, tipping my hat to the carol's British origin, here's a fine performance in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, UK.  (Although, I think it would be uncomfortable to wear one of those white collars, don't you?)