About the music
The Mandolin:
With a lineage reaching back to the earliest musical instruments, the mandolin is a “lute” meaning that it is plucked or strummed, a type of chordophone. From the lute, first appearing in the 13th century came the mandora or mandolo and from the mandora came the mandolin. Its beautiful tones are created by the vibration of the eight metal strings or, four double courses or pairs of strings. This modern version of the mandolin originated from Naples, Italy in the late 18th century. Earlier versions had twelve strings or, 6 double courses made of gut. There have been many variants on the mandolin since its existence including the peculiar banjo-mandolin. Unlike other larger stringed instruments or those played with a bow, notes played on the mandolin decay quickly to silence rather than sound out continuously like a violin. This is where the use of tremolo comes in. Tremolo is the rapid picking of one or more strings to create sustained note or chords.
Joy to the World
The lyrics of Joy to the World were written by the English hymn writer Isaac Watts and based on Psalm 98 from the Bible. First published in 1719, the words originally glorified the second coming of Christ – not celebrating the birth of Christ. Only the second half of Watts’ lyrics are used today. The music was adapted and arranged by Lowell Mason in 1839, from an older melody that is believed to have originated from Handel, but he did not compose the whole tune. Mason is also known for composing the ever popular children’s tune, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
First appearing in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739, and written by the somber Charles Wesley, this tune was slow and solemn – not the tune we know today. The original opening couplet was “Hark! How all the welkin rings Glory to the King of Kings.” Wesley originally wanted the poem to be set to the tune of Christ the Lord is Risen Today. However, the popular version we know is the result of alterations from various hands including Wesley’s co-worker George Whitefield and Felix Mendelssohn. The music accompanying the lyrics today is from a cantata composed by Mendelssohn in 1840, commemorating Johann Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press.
Coventry Carol
Dating back to the 16th century, this carol is named after Coventry, England and was performed as part of a play called “The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors.” The pageant may have roots dating back to the 14th century as part of morality plays that tradesmen performed for the entertainment of monarchs and town officials. The play illustrates the Christmas story found in chapter two of the Gospel of Mathew. The carol refers to the Massacre of the Innocents when Herod the King of Judea, also known as Herod the Great ordered the slaughter of all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem. These lyrics are the lamentations of the mothers embracing their babies and singing to them gently as a lullaby to “be still, be still, my little child,” just before the Roman soldiers knocked on their doors.
With a lineage reaching back to the earliest musical instruments, the mandolin is a “lute” meaning that it is plucked or strummed, a type of chordophone. From the lute, first appearing in the 13th century came the mandora or mandolo and from the mandora came the mandolin. Its beautiful tones are created by the vibration of the eight metal strings or, four double courses or pairs of strings. This modern version of the mandolin originated from Naples, Italy in the late 18th century. Earlier versions had twelve strings or, 6 double courses made of gut. There have been many variants on the mandolin since its existence including the peculiar banjo-mandolin. Unlike other larger stringed instruments or those played with a bow, notes played on the mandolin decay quickly to silence rather than sound out continuously like a violin. This is where the use of tremolo comes in. Tremolo is the rapid picking of one or more strings to create sustained note or chords.
Joy to the World
The lyrics of Joy to the World were written by the English hymn writer Isaac Watts and based on Psalm 98 from the Bible. First published in 1719, the words originally glorified the second coming of Christ – not celebrating the birth of Christ. Only the second half of Watts’ lyrics are used today. The music was adapted and arranged by Lowell Mason in 1839, from an older melody that is believed to have originated from Handel, but he did not compose the whole tune. Mason is also known for composing the ever popular children’s tune, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
First appearing in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739, and written by the somber Charles Wesley, this tune was slow and solemn – not the tune we know today. The original opening couplet was “Hark! How all the welkin rings Glory to the King of Kings.” Wesley originally wanted the poem to be set to the tune of Christ the Lord is Risen Today. However, the popular version we know is the result of alterations from various hands including Wesley’s co-worker George Whitefield and Felix Mendelssohn. The music accompanying the lyrics today is from a cantata composed by Mendelssohn in 1840, commemorating Johann Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press.
Coventry Carol
Dating back to the 16th century, this carol is named after Coventry, England and was performed as part of a play called “The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors.” The pageant may have roots dating back to the 14th century as part of morality plays that tradesmen performed for the entertainment of monarchs and town officials. The play illustrates the Christmas story found in chapter two of the Gospel of Mathew. The carol refers to the Massacre of the Innocents when Herod the King of Judea, also known as Herod the Great ordered the slaughter of all male infants under the age of two in Bethlehem. These lyrics are the lamentations of the mothers embracing their babies and singing to them gently as a lullaby to “be still, be still, my little child,” just before the Roman soldiers knocked on their doors.
