We have a collection of 12 arrangements for Felix Mendelssohn - Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
Who composed the music for the famous Christmas carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"? Learn!
"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas carol that has become widely popular, and it has an interesting connection to Felix Mendelssohn. The melody used in the carol is actually from one of Mendelssohn's compositions.
The melody was originally composed by Felix Mendelssohn as part of a cantata he wrote in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg and the invention of the printing press. The cantata, titled "Festgesang" in German, had different lyrics and was not intended to be a Christmas carol.
The transformation of Mendelssohn's melody into the Christmas carol we know today happened through the work of various musicians. The lyrics we associate with the carol were written by Charles Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement. The adaptation of Mendelssohn's melody with Wesley's lyrics occurred in the mid-20th century, giving us the beloved "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing."
So, when you listen to this Christmas carol, you are actually hearing a melody composed by Felix Mendelssohn for a different occasion, repurposed to celebrate the Christmas season.