set to music by Geoffrey Dale
for SSATB chorus and piano

SSATB performance time approx 4m 30s

Music

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Words

Hark! how all the welkin rings, [welkin: the sky, the firmament]
"Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say,
"Christ the Lord is born today!"

Christ, by highest Heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's womb!

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus, our Emmanuel here!

Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen 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.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.

Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.

Let us all with one accord
Praise with song our wondrous Lord.
Earth, with angel voices blend.
Peace, love, hope our message send.

vv. 1 – 8 by Charles Wesley, 1739
v. 9 by Geoffrey Dale

Price

The price of this piece depends on the number of singers in your group. This is a single payment for a licence to make as many copies as you need for your group to rehearse and perform the song as often as you wish. Copies of the song must not be given, lent or sold to any other group.

Companion pieces