Tune: CHRISTMAS (Handel)

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CHRISTMAS (Handel)

Composer: George Frideric Handel (1728)
Published in 685 hymnals

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FlexScore
	While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Piano/Organ
	Four Postludes in Classic Style

Choral
	While Shepherds Watched

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

Alternative Tunes

More tunes with meter 8.6.8.6.6 ^ top

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

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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Piano/Organ Four Postludes in Classic Style KEYBOARD FOR CHRISTMAS, A Rejoice! Rejoice! (Christmas Carol Celebrations for Piano) More Piano/Organ...
Choral While Shepherds Watched And Glory Shone Around (A Christmas Cantata Celebrating Love’s Perfect Light) And Glory Shone Around (A Christmas Cantata Celebrating Love’s Perfect Light) More Choral...
Instrumental Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Woodwind Solos for the Christmas Season) Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Woodwind Solos for the Christmas Season) Christmas Proclamations! (Brass Solos for Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, or Baritone T.C.) More Instrumental...
Handbells Let Our Carols Fill the Sky! (Reproducible Arrangements of Familiar Christmas Carols for Handbells with optional Handchimes) Let Our Carols Fill the Sky! (Reproducible Arrangements of Familiar Christmas Carols for Handbells with optional Handchimes) WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS More Handbells...
PowerPoint WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS (Baptist Hymnal 2008/Worship Hymnal 203) WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS (Hymnal for Worship & Celebration 135) WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS (Praise! Our Songs and Hymns 189) More PowerPoint...

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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Our Great Redeemer's Praise (2022), p.196

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Instances

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CHRISTMAS (Handel)

Contents

CHRISTMAS (Handel)

Composer: George Frideric Handel

Tune Information

Texts

Alternative Tunes

Notes

Timeline

Arrangements

Piano/Organ

Choral

Instrumental

Handbells

PowerPoint

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

Organ Solo

Piano Solo

Piano and Organ Duet

Media

Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #528

The Cyber Hymnal #316

The Cyber Hymnal #2356

The Cyber Hymnal #4329

The Cyber Hymnal #7657

The Cyber Hymnal #10388

The Cyber Hymnal #11726

The Cyber Hymnal #14109

The United Methodist Hymnal #236

Worship and Rejoice #228

Page Scans

Instances