By Hymncharts team
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, a beloved Christmas carol that has been enjoyed by people all over the world for centuries, was first published in 1739 in a collection of hymns titled Hymns and Sacred Poems. The lyrics to the song were written by Charles Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement, and the melody was composed by George Frideric Handel, a famous German composer.
The original lyrics to the song were somewhat different from the version that is commonly sung today. Wesley’s original opening line was Hark how all the Welkin rings, but this was later changed to the familiar Hark! The Herald Angels sing by George Whitefield in his 1754 Collection of Hymns for Social Worship. (Welkin comes from an Old English word wolcen and simply means cloud, sky, or heavens. It wasn’t even commonly used in Wesley’s time and is virtually nonexistent in our modern vocabulary.)
Today, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing continues to inspire and uplift people of all ages. Its message of joy and hope is timeless, and it serves as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. It’s a carol that will be enjoyed and cherished for generations to come.
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