CHRISTMAS (Handel)

Composer: George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel (b. Halle, Germany, 1685; d. London, England, 1759) became a musician and composer despite objections from his father, who wanted him to become a lawyer. Handel studied music with Zachau, organist at the Halle Cathedral, and became an accomplished violinist and keyboard performer. He traveled and studied in Italy for some time and then settled permanently in England in 1713. Although he wrote a large number of instrumental works, he is known mainly for his Italian operas, oratorios (including Messiah, 1741), various anthems for church and royal festivities, and organ concertos, which he interpolated into his oratorio performances. He composed only three hymn tunes, one of which (GOPSAL) still appears in some modern hy… Go to person page >

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Tune Information

Title: CHRISTMAS (Handel)
Composer: George Frideric Handel (1728)
Meter: 8.6.8.6.6
Incipit: 34517 65123 34555
Key: D Major
Copyright: Public Domain
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Texts

Running the Christian Race

While shepherds watched their flocks

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
an angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.

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All texts published with CHRISTMAS (Handel)^ top

Notes

The tune is based on the the beginning of the soprano aria "Non vi piacque ingiusti dei" from the opera "Siroe"

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Timeline

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Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Free Harmonizations of Favorite Hymns Volume 1: General Hymns I
    Composer/Editor James M. Guthrie
    Published By: Self-published (2017) pp. LL
  • Free Harmonizations of Favorite Hymns Volume 3: The Christmas Season
    Composer/Editor James M. Guthrie
    Published By: Self-published (2017) pp. LL
  • The Art of Hymn Playing Volume 2: 250 Preludes Introductions Free Accompaniments & Alternate Harmonizations
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2009) pp. 38-39
  • Crystal Cathedral Golden Collection
    Composer/Editors Frederick Swann; Mark Thallander; Richard Unfried
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (2006) pp. 112
  • Two Hundred One Hymn Tune Prelude Miniatures
    Composer/Editor Mark Winchester
    Published By: Frog Music (2005) pp. 144
  • The Creative Use of Descants in Worship: The Creative Church Musician Series / Volume 3
    Composer/Editor Hal H. Hopson
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (1999) pp. 23
  • Free Harmonizations of Hymn Tunes: By Fifty American Composers
    Composer/Editor D. DeWitt Wasson
    Published By: Hinshaw Music, Inc. (1984) pp. 64
  • Organ Hymns of Praise from the Crystal Cathedral: Hymn Accompaniments Arranged by Richard Unfreid
    Composer/Editor Richard Unfried
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1981) pp. 31
  • Free Hymn Accompaniments: 46 Tunes, 74 Hymns, Fully Indexed
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Powell
    Published By: Abingdon Press (1979) pp. 20

Organ Solo

  • He Is Born: Christmas Carols for Organ
    Composer/Editor Lloyd Larson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2021) pp. 28
  • Hark the Glad Sound: Carols for Organ
    Composer/Editor Lynn L. Peterson
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2007) pp. 34
  • Big Brown Book of Organ Solos
    Composer/Editors Carol McMillen Tornquist; Ken Barker; Owen Griffin
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (2002) pp. 97
  • Carols of the Angels for Organ
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Mary Beth Williams
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1999) pp. 28
  • Hymn Trios for the New Organist Volume Three: Motivic Pedal Parts
    Composer/Editor Richard Hudson
    Published By: Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. (1994) pp. 14
  • By Request: Favorite Hymns for Organ
    Composer/Editor Betty Sue Shepherd
    Published By: Cumberland Hill Music Corporation (1989) pp. 27
  • Twelve Hymn Settings for Organ Volume II
    Composer/Editor David N. Johnson
    Published By: Schmitt Music Centers (1977) pp. 40
  • Ten Christmas Organ Voluntaries on Familiar Carols: With Hammond Registration
    Composer/Editor Gordon Young
    Published By: Theodore Presser Company (1970) pp. 12
  • The Parish Organist Part Eleven: Thirty-five Preludes on Familiar Hymn Tunes
    Composer/Editors Willem Mudde; Wayne Barlow
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1966) pp. 12
  • Standard Carols & Variations for Organ: For Use with Congregational Singing
    Composer/Editor Allen James
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1962) pp. 26
  • The Organist Volume 58 Number 5 November 1954: Voluntaries for the Church Organ
    Composer/Editors Rob Roy Peery; Roger C. Wilson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1954) pp. 31

Piano Solo

  • A Traditional Christmas: 18 Arrangements Celebrating the Birth of Jesus
    Composer/Editor Melody Bober
    Published By: Alfred Music Publishing Company, Inc. (2016) pp. 45
  • O Holy Child of Bethlehem: Christmas Carols arranged for Solo Piano
    Composer/Editor Marilyn White
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (2008) pp. 36
  • Illuminations: Reflections on Christmas
    Composer/Editor Jay Rouse
    Published By: PraiseGathering Music (2005) pp. 19
  • Christmas Classics: Arranged for Piano
    Composer/Editor Carolyne M. Taylor
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1998) pp. 12
  • Carols of Christmas: In Baroque Style - Solo Piano Intermediate
    Composer/Editor Carrie Kraft
    Published By: Belwin-Mills Publishing Corporation (1997) pp. 6
  • Yuletide Treasures: 20 Christmas miniatures for Solo Piano
    Composer/Editor Jolene Boyd
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1997) pp. 40
  • Songs of Bethlehem: Solo Piano for Christmas
    Composer/Editor Don Wyrtzen
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (1996) pp. 38
  • A Christmas Soliloquy: Solo Piano Arrangements by Jay Rouse
    Composer/Editor Jay Rouse
    Published By: PraiseGathering Music (1994) pp. 31
  • Classical Carols: Piano Arrangements for the Christmas Season
    Composer/Editor Carolyne M. Taylor
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1992) pp. 3
  • Dino - Christmas Favorites
    Composer/Editor Dino Kartsonakis
    Published By: Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. (1988) pp. 9
  • A Christmas Gift of Love: Dino
    Composer/Editor Dino Kartsonakis
    Published By: Lexicon Music, Inc. (1985) pp. 18
  • Bock's Best Volume III: 25 Outstanding Christmas Piano Arrangements
    Composer/Editor Fred Bock
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1984) pp. 10, 50
  • Tedd Smith's Piano Solo Arrangements of Christmas Carols: Easy to Moderately Difficult
    Composer/Editor Tedd Smith
    Published By: Singspiration Music, Inc. (1969) pp. 21
  • Christmas Transcriptions for Piano
    Composer/Editor Wilda Jackson Auld
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1955) pp. 16

Piano and Organ Duet

  • Bells, Angels, Shepherds and Kings: Medleys for Organ and Piano
    Composer/Editor Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2006) pp. 23
  • Carol Medleys: Creative4 Christmas Duets for Organ and Piano
    Composer/Editor Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2003) pp. 3
  • A Christmas Tapestry for Organ & Piano
    Composer/Editor Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2000) pp. 16
  • Piano / Organ Duets for Special Holidays
    Composer/Editor W. Elmo Mercer
    Published By: Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. (1993) pp. 53
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Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #528
  • Four-part harmony, full-score (PDF, NWC)
The Cyber Hymnal #316
Text: Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
The Cyber Hymnal #2356
Text: Hark from on High Those Blissful Strains!
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
The Cyber Hymnal #4329
Text: Mortals Awake, with Angels Join
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
The Cyber Hymnal #7657
Text: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
The Cyber Hymnal #10388
Text: Hosanna! Raise The Pealing Hymn
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)
The Cyber Hymnal #11726
Text: May I Throughout This Day Of Thine
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)
The Cyber Hymnal #14109
Text: Tu Nous Aimas Jusqu'à La Mort
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)
The United Methodist Hymnal #236
Text: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
Worship and Rejoice #228
Text: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
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Instances

Instances (601 - 628 of 628)
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Worship and Praise #282

Worship and Praise #282
TextScoreAudioPage Scan

Worship and Rejoice #228

Worship and Rejoice #228
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Worship and Service Hymnal #30

Worship and Service Hymnal #30
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Worship and Service Hymnal #419

Worship and Service Hymnal #419
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Worship and Song #261

Worship and Song #261
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Worship and Song. (Rev. ed.) #277

Worship and Song. (Rev. ed.) #277

Worship His Majesty #160

Worship His Majesty #160
Text

Worship in Song #97

Worship in Song #97
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Worship in the School Room #23

Worship in the School Room #23
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Worship in the School Room #24

Worship in the School Room #24
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Worship in the School Room #33

Worship in the School Room #33
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Worship in the School Room #34

Worship in the School Room #34
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Worship in the School Room #57

Worship in the School Room #57
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Worship in the School Room #58

Worship in the School Room #58
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Worship in the School Room #367

Worship in the School Room #367
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Worship in the School Room #368

Worship in the School Room #368
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Worship in the School Room #459

Worship in the School Room #459
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Worship in the School Room #460

Worship in the School Room #460
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Y.P.S.C.E. Hymns of Christian Endeavor #149

Y.P.S.C.E. Hymns of Christian Endeavor #149
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Y.P.S.C.E. Hymns of Christian Endeavor #150

Y.P.S.C.E. Hymns of Christian Endeavor #150
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Y.P.S.C.E. Hymns of Christian Endeavor #151

Y.P.S.C.E. Hymns of Christian Endeavor #151
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Yes, Lord! #209

Yes, Lord! #209
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Young Men's Christian Association Hymn and Tune Book #56

Young Men's Christian Association Hymn and Tune Book #56
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Youth Hymnal #111

Youth Hymnal #111
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كتاب الترانيم الروحية للكنائس الإنجيلية #158a

كتاب الترانيم الروحية للكنائس الإنجيلية #158a
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مزامير وتسابيح وأغاني روحية #68

مزامير وتسابيح وأغاني روحية #68
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مزامير وتسابيح وأغاني روحية #121

مزامير وتسابيح وأغاني روحية #121
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نظم المرامير #341

نظم المرامير #341

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