Sketches of some popular Christmas Carols

Lloyd Rajartnam Devarajah

Negro spirituals represent some of the finest of American folk music which express the heartfelt traditions and experiences, usually the blending of a particular culture, their bitter hardship as slaves and their African heritage.

"Go tell it on the Mountian, Over the hills and everywhere, Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born".

This well-loved Negro spiritual was written by John Work (1871-1925) with the help of his brother Frederick. The Work brothers played a pioneer role in preserving, arranging, promoting and publishing Negro Spirituals, which were today enjoyed. This Negro spiritual is also usually sung during the Christmas season.

The well - known American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882) was deeply affected and moved by the atrocities, the sufferings and the miseries the people underwent, due to and during the American Civil War (1861 - 1865).

This Christmas Carol, "I heard the bells on Christmas Day their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, goodwill to men", the Blessed promise of Christmas, was the result.

"Oh Star of wonder, Star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to Thy perfect light."

This is the chorus of another well - known Christmas Carol "We Three kings of Orient are", composed by John Hopkins (1820-1891) an American Priest.

The Bible says: When the Wisemen came to the stable and saw the infant Jesus with Mary HIS mother, they fell down, prostrated themselves before them and worshipped HIM and "presented unto HIM, gifts: Gold, frankincense and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11).

"While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around".

This is the chorus from another popular and well - known Christmas Carol. "While Shepherds watched their Flocks" was written by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715), the son of an Irsh priest. The music was by well - known master composer George Handel. Tate later was appointed Poet Laureate of England.

Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the new born King", is also taken from the chorus of another old, well - known and a favourite Christmas Carol, "Hark! the Herald Angels sing" written by the well-known prodigious Methodist hymn writer, Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788). Charles who had, mostly in close collaboration with this brother John, written well over 5,000 hymns, usually presented "The Biblical doctrine in poetic langauge".

The music now in use for this Carol was done by master composer Felix Mendelssohn, after Charles' death.

"Come and worship, come and Worship, Worship Christ, the new born King," the chorus from another popular Christmas Carol, was written by the editor of a weekly London newspaper "Sheffield Register", James Montgomery (1771 - 1854).

The title of this endearing Christmas Carol is "Angels, from the Realms of Glory".

Montgomery, one of England's leading hymn writers, is credited with over 400 hymns and is respected and regarded for making a great contribution to English hymnody. As a reputed journalist, he was an outspoken advocate for the abolition of slavery and numerous other humanitarian causes.

Montgomery was incarcerated in prison twice, for championing the downtrodden and radical social reforms. It should be noted that although Montgomery was trained for the priesthood, he was throughout his life, a Journalist and crusading editor.

Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748) known as the "Father of English Hymnody" has written well over 600 hymns, such as "Oh God, our Help in Ages past", "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "Jesus shall Reign where're the Sun" and Christmas Carol "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King."