written by Alfred Hans Zoller, translation by George Cooper in 1890, music by Amanda Kennedy in 1883 These changes (together with the new title) were retained in his Original Hymns, 1853, No. 239; and must be regarded as the authorised text. By many compilers the closing stanza:— Translated into English as " The Three Kings" or "Three Kings From Persian Lands Afar" by W. G. Rothery in 1916

The use of this hymn in various forms in English-speaking countries is extensive, abbreviations being the rule. Amongst American Hymnals, the Hymns of the Church, 1869, and the Baptist Praise Book, 1871, give the full revised and authorised text of 1825 and 1853. This march-like tune is hundreds of years old, and was used in Medieval liturgy. The melody is devotional and uplifting, with a much more complex melody than was common at the time. This uplifting Advent carol was a relatively recent addition to the canon of Christmas music, written by Roman Catholic composer Bernadette Farrell in the early 1990s. It describes the waiting for Christmas as a journey through darkness towards light.Rather than celebrating the birth of Christ, the text of this hymn represents Christ’s triumphant return. The words, dreamed up by English writer Isaac Watts, are based on the second half of Psalm 98 in the Bible. In the late ’90s, it was named the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. You can just feel the merriness pouring out of it.

Reijo Pajamo. Taas kaikki kauniit muistot. Joululaulujen taustat ja tarinat. P. 67–69. WSOY, Finland, 1982. ISBN 951-0-11444-8. The editors of The English Hymnal have noted that ‘it would be impossible to print all of the tunes which are traditionally sung to this hymn’. This may be because for a significant period of the 18th century this was the only Christmas hymn that was permitted to be sung in church. A service of carols, hymns and readings, live from the candlelit Chapel of King's College, Cambridge. Originally written with French words by Adolphe Adam in 1847, O Holy Night has become a timeless favourite covered by countless contemporary artists including Mariah Carey. Adam was actually an opera composer, and he wrote this lilting melody to be sung in his local church to celebrate the renovation of their organ. Macaronic carol known in several translations; melody is also used for the English song "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" (aka, "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice").See Amid The Winter’s Snow is a carol written for Christmas Day, with the celebratory lyrics, ‘Hail thou ever blessed morn’ to welcome the newborn Christ. The melody was written by John Goss, then organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is come in peace in the winter's stillness, like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night. He is come in joy, like the sun at morning, filling all the world with radiance and with light. He is come in love as the child of Mary. In a simple stable we have seen his birth. Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels singing 'Peace on earth'. The Little Drummer Boy’ was originally known as The Carol of the Drum, and the text is based on an old Czech carol. It was written by American classical music composer and teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1940. It was recorded by Bing Crosby and David Bowie in 1977, with the new addition of the ‘Peace On Earth’ countermelody which has since become an accepted part of the song. Traditional carol from the Canary Islands, recently updated to include all eight independent islands. Silent Night is a popular carol composed by Franz Xaver Grüber in 1818 near Salzburg in Austria. Legend has it that one Christmas night some mice chewed through vital parts of the organ in Grüber’s church, so he had to compose a carol that could be played on just a guitar.

Many of today’s most popular carols are dignified 19th-century offerings with tuneful melodies, rich harmonies and Christmassy sounds abundant. has been, in some instances, omitted, and in others a doxology has been substituted. That given in A Hymn Book for the Services of the Church, &c, by the Rev. Isaac Gregory Smith, 1855, reads:— Translated into English as "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming", "Lo, There A Rose Is Blooming", "There Is A Flower Springing", "A great and mighty wonder"

18. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Charles Oakley’s text found its appeal when paired with a rousing tune by Martin Shaw called Little Conard. The hymn tells the story of the Advent message of the coming of the Christ Child spreading to all four corners of the globe. Christmas Day worship service; during the Christmas season and Epiphany (not only for the Christmas story, but also for the hymn's obvious mission focus in stanza 4). Contemplative and reverent, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” is based upon ancient writings in Greek on Habakkuk 2:20. We are exhorted to “ponder nothing earthly minded” because “Christ our God to earth descendeth” as the “Lord of lords in human vesture.” And, as in so many Christmas songs, we are rightly inspired to sing with the angels: “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Lord Most High.” (Source: Wikipedia.org) This piece was written in 1984. Originally for organ, the accompaniment was later scored by the composer for flute, oboe, harp and strings. It’s now a popular carol at Christmas Concerts in the U.K. and USA. The words for this carol were written by Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander who also wrote the words to ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. There is nothing quite as Christmassy as hearing the soaring voice of a treble singing the solo at the beginning of this piece. In fact, the tune has been the first carol sung in the annual ‘Carols from King’s’ service in Cambridge for the last 95 years.