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It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

About the Song

Words: Edmund H. Sears Music: Traditional German (Ellacombe) Arranged by Sally DeFord and James Loynes The traditional hymn tune Ellacombe has been used for many different hymns over the years, including #41 in the 1985 LDS hymnbook. It’s an upbeat, triumphant melody that fits the spirit of these words perfectly. The arrangement itself is probably best suited to a large choir. Don’t be fooled by the “easier” piano–this isn’t an easy one to play. Arranging this was very much like arranging “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night”–an indulgence in musical enjoyment. The “Good Christian Men Rejoice” lines begged us to use them as a counterpoint, so we did. The flute score can be used with either choir score, or the solo score. It’s very repetitive and there’s not much there. It was written just for accent in the recording, but enough of you asked for it that I’ve made it available. The scores are written with fairly straight rhythms–you’ll notice that James sings them a bit more syncopated. Play with it and enjoy!

Sheet Music Downloads

PDF:

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Spotify, Soundcloud (inc. free downloads)

Click the to download the free track for personal use. Recording featuring vocals by James Loynes:

Accompaniment track:

Apple Music, Amazon

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Apple Music: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (feat. James Loynes)
Apple Music: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Accompaniment Track)

Amazon: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (feat. James Loynes)
Amazon: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Accompaniment Track)

YouTube

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Lyrics

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 earth, good will to men
From Heaven’s all-gracious king!”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world
O’er its sad and lowly plain
They bend on hov’ring wing
And ever o’er its babel sounds
The blessed angels sing

For lo! the days are hast’ning on
By prophets seen of old
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When the heav’ns and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King
And all the world send back the song
Which now the angels sing

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5 Comments

Walter E. Ritter on November 27, 2023 at 11:46 am

Thank-you so much for this beautiful holiday song!
Reply
Marilyn Owens on November 15, 2022 at 10:27 am

Thank you so much for all the music you have provided for so many years. I have used your music for solos I have sung in the past and never properly thanked you. Your music is beautiful and so appreciated!
Reply
Kristi Larsen on November 15, 2022 at 10:14 am

this arrangement of Mattie June doing your arrangement of It came Upon a midnight clear is amazing, do you have the guitar music for that?
Reply
Marisa on October 13, 2019 at 6:46 am

Is there a SATB choir recording for this song?
Reply
Tara on December 3, 2018 at 6:42 am

Is there a recording of an SATB choir singing this? We are performing this for our Christmas program and the members would like to hear what their parts sound like.
Thank you
Reply