Scripture Verse

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2

Introduction

Words: Verse 1, Jo­han­nes D. Falk, Aus­er­le­se­ne Werke (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny: 1816). Vers­es 2–3, ano­ny­mous (O du fröhliche, o du sel­ige, gnad­en­bring­en­de Weih­nachts­zeit). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Hen­ry Kat­ter­john, 1919.

Music: Si­cil­ian Mar­in­ers, from The Eu­ro­pe­an Ma­ga­zine and Lon­don Re­view, No­vem­ber 1792 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Kat­ter­john (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Johannes Falk (1768–1826)

Lyrics

O thou joy­ful, O thou won­der­ful
Grace re­veal­ing Christ­mas­tide!
Jesus came to win us
From all sin with­in us;
Glorify, glo­ri­fy the Ho­ly Child!

O thou joy­ful, O thou won­der­ful
Love re­veal­ing Christ­mas­tide!
Loud ho­san­nas sing­ing,
And all prais­es bring­ing,
May Thy love, may Thy love with us ab­ide.

O thou joy­ful, O thou won­der­ful
Peace re­veal­ing Christ­mas­tide!
Darkness dis­ap­pear­eth,
God’s own light now near­eth,
Peace and joy, peace and joy to all be­tide.