Hark the Herald Angels Sing
- Jan 6, 2022
- 2 min read
Music: Felix Mendelsshon Lyrics: Charles Wesley
These four are responsible for the music and lyrics as it is performed today.
The hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing was written in 1739 by one of the founders of the Methodist Church, George Wesley. The hymn was composed as a Christmas hymn and was to be performed to a slow and solemn song Wesley had written. The lyrics most frequently recited today have undergone some changes from the lyrics Wesley wrote. The first changes were made by Wesley's partner in George Whitefield's Methodist Church in 1753, but several more changes have since been made. hymn
The music originally composed with the lyrics is long forgotten, It was replaced by the second section of the cantata Festgesang, written by Felix Mendelsohn in 1840. In 1855, William H Cummings adapted Mendelsohn's music to the lyrics, and that is the version we know with the lyrics today.
The text is based on Luke chapter 2, which tells of the coming of the Savior. The text begins with the word Hark, which at the time was a sort of opening word to get the attention of those who were supposed to listen. The opening sentence of the English text would therefore translate: "Listen to the song of the angels." As I was writing up and learning how to play the version accompanying this article, I started looking for Icelandic text instead of English text. Couldn't find anyone, so I ask the music teacher at the school I work if he knew of any Icelandic lyrics for the song. He did. Ingólfur Jónsson from the farm Prestbakki wrote Icelandic lyrics for the song, called Friður, friður frelsarans (Peace, peace of the savior).
Sheed music if you want.
Enski og íslenski textinn
Enski textinn
Hark the herald angels sing. "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest Heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased
as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the Heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Charles Wesley
Íslenski textinn
Friður, friður frelsarans, finni leið til sérhvers manns. Yfir höf og yfir lönd almáttug nær drottins hönd. Hans er lífið, hans er sól, hann á okkar björtu jól. Börn við erum börnin smá, börn, sem Drottinn vakir hjá. Börn við erum börnin smá, börn, sem Drottinn vakir hjá.
Friður, friður fögur jól, frelsarinn er vörn og skjól. Verum örugg, verum trú, verum glöð á jólum nú. Veitum öðrum von og yl vermum allt sem finnur til. Börn við erum börnin smá, börn, sem Drottinn vakir hjá. Börn við erum börnin smá, börn, sem Drottinn vakir hjá.
Friður sé um fold og haf friðarboðskap Jesús gaf. Fátækur hann fæddur var, faðir ljóssins þó hann var. Ljóssins faðir, ljós þín skær lýsi öllum nær og fjær. Börn við erum börnin smá, börn, sem Drottinn vakir hjá. Börn við erum börnin smá, börn, sem Drottinn vakir hjá.
Ingólfur Jónsson frá Prestbakka
Covidtextinn
Harkað‘af þér Haraldur, hér mun geisa faraldur. Einangrun og einvera er ekki ætluð handa þér. Spritta hendur, sprauta og skrúbba, sprikla svo um sveitta klúbba. Smitin fljúga fylgsnum úr, fjúkum bak við næsta skúr. Höfuð, herðar, hné og tær hérna var það allt í gær.
Bóluefnin blíð og góð bæta okkar pilt og fljóð. Gleðin ei skal glatast mér gaman hef ég hér með þér. Nú skulum við skemmta okkur, skólans góði gleðiflokkur. Ansans veiran, ansi þreytt á mig bítur ekki neitt Harkað‘af þér Haraldur, hér er ennþá faraldur.
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