Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Congregation)
About the Song
Text by Charles Wesley, adapted
Music by Felix Mendelssohn
Arranged by Sally DeFord
This little arrangement was born of necessity. While looking for accompaniments for our Christmas sing-along, I couldn’t find one that was bulky enough to support a 600+ person congregation. This one, as you might expect after a comment like that, has only one dynamic level… loud. Wesley wouldn’t approve. He apparently wanted gentle music for these lyrics. Mendelssohn’s setting probably wasn’t what he had in mind, and I’ve just made it worse.
The score can also be used as a piano/organ duet, with all the tricky parts falling to the piano, while the organ plays the basic hymn. Please remember, though, that this one is… rowdy. 🙂
Sheet Music Downloads
Lyrics
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th’angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild, He lays his glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
If you have questions, please check the FAQ.
If you don't find your answer there, feel free to post your question here. 🙂
18 Comments
Submit a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Don't see what you want here? Try one of these great sites:
-
Sheet Music Plus
They have just about everything, secular and sacred–usually at a discount.
-
Free Sacred Sheet Music
Free, downloadable religious music. 4500+ selections. Publish your own music there as well!
This one was fun and my ward loved it yesterday. I discovered it too late on Christmas Eve to rock the LH moving and jumping octaves, so I got my son to play the LH and I handled the RH. I had an absolute catastrophe at measures 28-29 (maybe reading glasses would have helped!), but other than that, it was fun and stirring.
Thanks so much for the music! We’re doing a few of your organ/piano duets for Sacrament meeting. In past years, I was able to print the organ score separate from the piano. Is that no longer possible?
Que lindo! Obrigado por compartilhar essa composição maravilhosa conosco. Deus a abençoe sempre, Sally Deford!
I’ve enjoyed playing your music. Thanks so much for generously sharing your talents!
You are beyond talented Sally. This song brought a lot of peace to our congregation today as some of them said they felt like they could take on the world after hearing it. Thank you so much!
Sally, your arrangement of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is positively stunning!! It was truly inspired!!! It has become a “requested” part of our ward program on the Sunday before Christmas! Thank you for your amazing talent and for your unselfish desire to make your music available for the world to use for free! What a Christ-like thing for you to do!
I can’t read music but learn by hearing it first. This is both a blessing and a curse since when a piece of music is placed in front of me, I can’t play it until someone else plays it for me. Then I can do it. I learned “Choose Him Again” that way. Do you have recording of this piece anywhere? Thank you!
I remember in years past that you had a way to listen to many of these congregational accompaniments. Where can I find those?
Do you have an arrangement of the traditional melody and words of the Christmas song “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”?
I don’t currently have that one, but here’s one I have used and enjoyed: https://www.aaronwaite.com/oh-come-all-ye-faithful-congregational.html
It’s not free, but you only need three copies to make it work. 🙂
Have you arranged any Easter hymns like this? We’re looking for one to end our Easter program this year.
Unfortunately, not yet. I had intended to do several for this year, but alas… carpal tunnel syndrome struck and I won’t be doing anything complicated for a few months. 🙁
Is it possible to listen to these arrangements?
Do you have the single half-sheet music for the congregation so we can put it in our sacrament meeting program. I recall an older version with a different old english font that had all four verses. How can I get this? It would be so appreciated. Thank you. I love your music….
KC
Unless I’ve totally spaced it (and my computer has as well) I’ve never had more than two verses for this… sorry!
I’m sorry. You’re right, it’s just the two verses and it fits on a half sheet for a sacrament meeting program.
What a wonderful arrangement of this hymn! We performed it in our ward last Christmas. I have been playing for church services for over forty years and have never seen a hymn touch so many people’s hearts. Many people called after church to tell me how it brought them to tears. Thank you for sharing your music.
awesome hark the herald angles piano and organ