The tune for "Hark, the herald angels sing" by Felix Mendelssohn was originally written in 1840 as a celebratory hymn for a festival in Leipzig commemorating the invention of printing, with no connection to Christmas.
Historical Context
Christmas has inspired composers and artists for 2000 years, resulting in a vast amount of music, from simple carols to oratorios.
Album & Artwork
This album, titled "Christmas through the ages," compiles Christmas music from the last eight hundred years.
Composition History
The carol "Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child" by Kenneth Leighton is an arrangement of a lullaby from the medieval Coventry mystery play "The Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors."
Composition History
John Tavener's "God is with us: A Christmas Proclamation" was written in 1987 as a tribute to Martin Neary, the organist and choirmaster of Winchester Cathedral.
Cultural Impact
An English enthusiast, William Cummings, later adapted Mendelssohn's tune for "Hark, the herald angels sing" to Charles Wesley's words, making it one of the most well-known carols.
Composer Biography
Benjamin Britten, a composer featured on this album, wrote his cantata "A Boy was Born" when he was only nineteen years old.
