We have a collection of 4 arrangements for Felix Mendelssohn - Charles Wesley - Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Who composed the melody for the beloved Christmas carol 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing'? Learn!
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a classic Christmas carol with an interesting history. The music was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 as part of a cantata to commemorate Johann Gutenberg and the invention of the printing press. However, the lyrics we associate with the carol today were written by Charles Wesley, one of the co-founders of the Methodist movement, in 1739.
Originally, Wesley's lyrics were paired with a different tune, and it wasn't until 1855, 16 years after Mendelssohn's death, that the two were first united to create the version we know today. The melody Mendelssohn composed for a completely different purpose found new life and became one of the beloved Christmas carols we sing during the holiday season. The title of the carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," reflects the joyful proclamation of the angels announcing the birth of Jesus Christ.