It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
SATB choral/organ score
PEL5031-Choir and Organ
AN ARRANGEMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL CAROL FOR SATB CHOIR AND ORGAN
The musical foundation of this title is Arthur Sullivan's 1874 adaptation of the tune "Noel", the traditional English melody for this text by Rev. E. H. Sears (1849). However, with the addition of Paul Halley's signature harmonies, inventive organ accompaniment, and glorious descant, this version will become your choir and congregation's new favourite.
Video
Notes
"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" - arranged Halley, at 0:04:21 in 'A King's Christmas 2019' video
Texts
1 It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.
2 Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.
3 Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.
4 For lo!, the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Words by Rev. E. H. Sears 1849
