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Christmas Music
in
New England
Early New England carol by Edward French, 1761-1845
from
The Stoughton Musical Society's
Centennial Collection of Sacred Music (1878)
One Horse Open Sleigh: The Story of "Jingle Bells"
Christmas Music From New England CD
Additional Christmas CDs
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New England Christmas Carols
by Roger Lee Hall
Director, New England Music Archive [NEMA]
It is not generally known that the first popular American Christmas carols were composed in Colonial New England.
18th Century
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 places, including Stoughton, Massachusetts.
Billings wrote what are believed to be the first Christmas hymns and carols in America during the 1770s.
These are some of the titles:
"Bethlehem" ( While shepherds watched their flocks by night)
"Boston" (Methinks I see a heav'nly host of angels on the wing)
"Emanuel" (As shepherds in Jewry were guarding their sheep)
"Judea" (A Virgin unspotted by Prophets foretold)
"Shiloh" (Methinks I see a heav'nly host of angels on the wing)
Other 18th New England composers of Christmas music include:
Supply Belcher (Farmington, Maine): "Carol"
(While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1794)
Bartholomew Brown (East Bridgewater, Massachusetts):
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
Edward French (Sharon, Massachusetts): "New Bethlehem"
(While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1799)
Some sources incorrectly credit this carol to his brother, Jacob French.
Daniel Read (Hartford, Connecticut): "Sherburne"
(While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 1785)
19th Century
"The Prince of Peace" (Canterbury, NH) --
Shaker Christmas Song by Lucy Williams, 1830s
"Joy to the World" [tune name: ANTIOCH] --
music by Lowell Mason, "Arranged from HANDEL"
"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" --
words: Edmund H. Sears/ music: Richard S. Willis, 1850"O Little Town of Bethlehem" -- words: Rev. Phillips Brooks/
music: Lewis Redner, 1868
"Away in a Manger" -- words & music: James R. Murray, 1887
"A Christmas Carol" -- words & music: Charles Ives, 1894
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All of these carols are featured on the CD,
Christmas Music From New England
A New England Christmas
Christmas in New England
by Amy Whorf McGuiggan
This excellent book is recommended
especially for the section on music, art and literature (89-121)
and for
"The Shakers: A Gift To Be Simple" (138-41)
The Story of "Jingle Bells"
There is another song associated with Christmas,
written by a Massachusetts born songwriter. Read more atOne Horse Open Sleigh: The Story of "Jingle Bells"
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A New England Christmas CD
Christmas Music From New England (AMRC No. 14)
Total playing time = 70:53This CD contains 24 carols, hymns and songs, performed by various artists.
Half of the music composed, arranged and edited by Roger Lee Hall, who was a guest on a Christmas Eve radio special, included on this CD.
Track titles:
I. From Celebrate, Rejoice and Sing! Nine Carols for Advent and Christmas, Op. 9
arranged by Roger Lee Hall, 1979
1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
2. Prepare the Royal Highway (Swedish and Englsih)
3. He Whom Shepherds Once Came Praising
II. Christmas Eve Radio Special (1992)
4. Jingle Bells -- words & music by James Pierpont, 1857(played by music box)
5. WBET radio program (guest: Roger Hall)
6. Jingle Bells -- from 1943 radio broadcast
7. Christmas Eve radio program continued
8. Hail to the Joyous Day -- words: Royall Tyler/ music: Roger Lee Hall, 1977
9. The Dark Night is Ending -- words: John Greenleaf Whittier/ music: R. L. Hall
10. Christmas Eve radio program continued
11. Joy to the World -- Lowell Mason, 1839 (1940s radio broadcast)
12. Christmas Eve radio program continued
13. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear --words: Edmund Sears/
music: Richard Willis, 1850 (1940s radio broadcast)
14. O Little Town of Bethlehem -- words: Phillips Brooks/
music: Lewis Redner, 1868 (1940s radio broadcast)III. Early New England Christmas Carols
15. Judea -- music by William Billings, 1778
16. Sherburne -- music by Daniel Read, 1785
17. Carol -- music by Supply Belcher, 1794
18. New Bethlehem -- music by Edward French, 1799
19. We Three Kings of Orient Are -- music by John H. Hopkins, 1857
IV. Chistmas Music from 19th and 20th Century New England
20. Rise Up, Shepherds and Follow -- Afro-American spiritual,
arranged by Roger Lee Hall
21. Natal Night -- Shaker Christmas poem/music by Roger Lee Hall
22. Leaping and Dancing -- arranged by Roger Lee Hall
23. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! -- Bartholomew Brown,
arranged by RogerLee Hall
24. The Prince of Peace -- Shaker tune, arranged by Roger Lee Hall
25. A Christmas Carol-- words and music by Charles Ives, 1894
26a. Away in a Manger I -- words and music by William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895/
edited by Roger Lee Hall
26b. Away in a Manger II -- words and music by James R. Murray, 1887/
edited by Roger Lee Hall
27. Silent Night -- English translation by Rev. John Young, 1863
28. How Lovely Shines the Morning Star --
music by George Whitefield Chadwick, 1909
To order this enjoyable CD of carols, hymns and songs:
Christmas Music From New England
(AMRC No. 14)
go to the
For other 18th century music, see this CD:
Additional CDs
Here are a few other recommended CDs with
New England Christmas music:
Joy of Angels:
Shaker Music for Christmas and the New Year
Christmas Music in America
(Two centuries of Christmas carols and songs)
Christmas in Early America: 18th Century Carols and Anthems
(The Columbus Consort)
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:
One of the most beautiful popular Christmas albums was recorded in the 1950s by the sublime voice of Harry Belafonte.
To order this soothing and serene CD, click this link:
RED, WHITE and BLUE:
Christmas Hit Songs by Gene, Bing, and Elvis
Please help support the mission of
American Music Preservation.com
Order your merchandise from Amazon.com from this Search Box
A Century of American Songs (1759-1859)
A Century of American Songs (1861-1961)
Joy of Angels: Shaker Spirituals for Christmas and The New Year
New England Music Archive [NEMA]
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