The Season of Christmas – Music – 60.1

Congregational Song in Christmas

A change in liturgical seasons creates opportunities to use congregational responses unique to the season and to repeat liturgical responses set to new and different music.

Songs with refrains might be sung refrain only, or stanzas might be used week to week either sequentially or cumulatively.

Lighting the Christ Candle on the Advent Wreath (Christmas Eve)

• Come Now, O Prince of Peace GTG 103
• Love Has Come (all stanzas) GTG 110
• Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light GTG 130
• Go, Tell It on the Mountain GTG 136, UMH 251, AAHH 202
• From Heaven Above (stanza 5) GTG 111
• Heaven Is Singing for Joy GTG 382, SSS 13
• Jesus, Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child GTG 126
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Jesus, the Light of the World GTG 127, AAHH 217
• Angels, from the Realms of Glory GTG 143 (mix-match stanzas for Christmas/Epiphany, stanza 4 regardless) 
• Vamos todos a Belén / Let Us Go to Bethlehem (refrain only or with some stanzas) SSS 84
• Wonderful Counselor AAHH 210

Pardon

• Angels We Have Heard on High (refrain) GTG 113
• Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me GTG 582
• Glory to God / Gloria, gloria GTG 583
• Glory, Glory, Glory GTG 584
• Glory to God / Gloria a Dios GTG 585 
• Sing Out, My Soul / Magnificat GTG 646

Doxology Alternatives

• Love Has Come (stanza 3) GTG 110
• Angels, from the Realms of Glory (stanza 4) GTG 143
• What Child Is This (stanza 3 or 1) GTG 145
• Sing, Praise, and Bless the Lord GTG 635
• Give Thanks GTG 647

Anthems for Children’s Choirs for Christmas and Epiphany

• “Carry the Light,” Andy Beck, ALF, uni/2 pt/3 pt, pno, opt vln (MA)
• “The First Light of Christmas,” Mark Burrows, CGA, uni/2 pt, pno (ME)
• “Humble Savior,” Diane Beckstead, CGA, uni/2 pt, pno, opt fl (ME)
• “Room in My Heart,” Mark Burrows, CGA, uni/2 pt, pno (E)
• “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” Becki Slagle Mayo, CGA, uni/2 pt, pno (ME)
• “A Calypso Noel,” Victor C. Johnson, CGA, uni/2 pt, pno, opt perc (ME)
• “May My Light Shine,” Lynn Shaw Bailey and Becki Slagle Mayo, CGA, uni, pno, opt hb/hc (E)
• “Tiny Little Baby Born in a Manger,” Cynthia Gray, CGA, uni/2 pt/SSA, pno (M)
• “Christmas Cradlesong,” Terry D. Taylor, JM, uni, pno, opt hb/hc (ME)
• “Bethlehem Night,” Terry D. Taylor, CGA, uni, pno, opt hb/hc (ME)
• “Silent Night,” Trevor Manor, CGA, uni/2 pt, pno, opt vln (M)

Anthems for Youth Choirs for Christmas and Epiphany

• “Gloria,” Michael John Trotta, BRI, 3 pt, pno, fl (E)
• “Always In a Manger,” Adam and Matt Podd, Podd Brothers Music, SAB, pno (ME)
• “Walk in the Light,” Karen Marrolli, MSM, SAB, vln, pno (M)
• “A Star, a Manger, and a Boy,” Andrew Huish, HIN, SAB, pno (ME)
• “Go Tell It!” Victor Johnson, ALF, 3 pt, pno (ME)

Handbell Music for Christmas and Epiphany

• “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice,” IN DULCI JUBILO, arr. Anna Laura Page, 2–3 oct, ALF, 44603, Level 1
• “Coventry Carol,” COVENTRY, arr. Cathy Moklebust, 2–3 oct, opt perc, BP, HB852, Level 1+
• “In the Bleak Midwinter,” CRANHAM, arr. Mark Longfield, 3–5 oct, JM, JMG1459, Level 2
• “Stille, Stille, Stille,” STILL, STILL, STILL, arr. Martha Lynn Thompson, 3–5 oct, opt hc, ALF, 23779, Level 2
• “All My Heart Again Rejoices,” WARUM SOLLT ICH, GLORIA, arr. Karen L. Buckwalter, 3–6 oct, opt 3 oct hc, opt ct, CGA, CGB1391, Level 3-
• “Stille Nacht,” STILLE NACHT, arr. James E. Weber Jr., 4–7 oct, BP, HB554, Level 3
• “Angel Tidings,” MENDELSSOHN, GLORIA, arr. Cynthia Dobrinski, 3 or 5 oct, HOPE, 1215, Level 3
• “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” ADESTE FIDELES, arr. Douglas E. Wagner, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 1262, Level 3
• “Sing We Now of Christmas,” NOEL NOUVELET, arr. Kevin McChesney, 3–6 oct, HOPE, 1892, Level 3
• “The First Noel,” THE FIRST NOWELL, arr. Cathy Moklebust, 3–7 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, JHS, JHS9480, Level 3+
• “Jesus, What a Wonderful Child,” WONDERFUL CHILD, arr. Linda R. Lamb, 3–6 oct, opt 2 oct hc, CGA, CGB1389, Level 4
• “Adoration of the Wise Men,” CHARTRES, arr. Matthew Prins, 3–5 oct, GIA, G-7624, Level 2
• “As with Gladness,” DIX, arr. Hart Morris, 3 oct, RRM, RRHB0065, Level 2+
• “We Three Kings,” arr. Cynthia Dobrinski, 3–5 oct, Agape, 1390, Level 3
• “Change Ring Prelude on ‘Divinum Mysterium,’” DIVINUM MYSTERIUM, arr. Fred Gramann, 3–6 oct, LOR, 20/1239L, Level 3+
• “A Manger Lullaby,” MUELLER, GREENSLEEVES, CRADLE SONG, arr. Kathleen Wissinger, 3–7 oct, opt 3–6 oct hc, RT, RE8012, Level 3

Piano Music for Christmas and Epiphany

• “Away in a Manger,” MUELLER / CRADLE SONG, Christmas Expressions, Joel Raney, HOPE (MA)
• “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” GO TELL IT, Christmas at the Keyboard, Mark Hayes, LOR (MA)
• “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” GOD REST YOU MERRY, Christmas Memories, book 3, Melody Bober, ALF (ME)
• “The Huron Carol,” JESOUS AHATONHIA, Christmas Illuminations, Dan Forrest, BP (A)
• “Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head,” REST YOUR HEAD, Sing We Now of Christmas, Dan Wyrtzen, FJH (M)
• “Joy to the World,” ANTIOCH, Extol the Lord! Andy Muskrat, LOR (MA)
• “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” ADESTE FIDELES, Gospel Greats, vol. 2, Joel Raney, HOPE (MA)
• “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing,” SUSSEX CAROL, Sunday Morning Holiday Companion, Victor Labenske, ALF (M)
• “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow,” RISE UP SHEPHERD, Carols A to Z, Faye L.pez, LOR (M)
• “We Three Kings,” KINGS OF ORIENT, Visions of Noel, Vicki Collinsworth, LOR (A)
• “What Sweeter Music,” The Christmas Piano Album, John Rutter, OUP (MA)
• “While by the Sheep We Watched at Night,” J.NGST, The Essential Collection for Christmas, Emily Lund, HOPE (M)

Vocal Solos for Christmas and Epiphany

• “Sweet Was the Song the Virgin Sang,” Sacred Songs for the Soloist, John Attey, BH (MA)
• “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” The Story of the Spirituals, Edward Boatner, BMP (M)
• “The Birds,” Benjamin Britten, BH (MA)
• “Behold That Star,” The Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh, H. T. Burleigh, BMP (M)
• “O My Deir Hert,” Herbert Howells Songs, Herbert Howells, BH (M)
• “The Virgin’s Slumber Song,” Sing Solo Christmas, Max Reger, OUP (M)
• “Wexford Carol,” The Christmas Collection, Richard Walters, HAL (M)
• “A Christmas Carol,” The Christmas Collection, Norman Dello Joio, HAL (MA)
• “Glory Hallelujah to the Newborn King,” Hall Johnson: 30 Spirituals, Hall Johnson, GSH (ME)
• “In the Bleak Midwinter, from A Christmas Triptych,” Christmas Solos for All Ages, Mary E. Caldwell, HAL (MA)
• “Home by Another Way,” James Taylor, SMP (E)