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-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

portrait
Johannes D. 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.