Oh How Joyfully

Grade Level 1

Year: 2013

Composer: James Curnow

Program Notes:

Though the Sicilian Hymn (Tune: Sicilian Mariner’s Hymn) is usually credited as being anonymous, it was first collected as a folk song by Felix Horetsky (1796-1870) in a collection entitled: 60 National Airs of Different Nations.

The text, Oh, How Joyfully, generally credited to J. Falk in 1810, of whom little is known, is a wonderful Christmas text that reverberates with the joy of the season:

Oh, how Joyfully, Oh, how merrily

Christmas comes with its grace divine.

Grace again is beaming, Christ the world redeeming;

Hail, ye Christians, hail the joyous Christmas time!

Oh, how joyfully, Oh, how merrily

Christmas comes with its life divine!

Angels high in glory, Chant the Christmas story;

Hail, ye Christians, hail the joyous Christmas time!

American Instrumental Ensemble Series (AIES/ABES)