Tag: Ding Dong Merrily On High

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Sweet Hymns of Joy – Ding, Dong Merrily On High

Michele Kearns

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

I have an amazing present for you this morning.

Back in 1989 the casts of numerous musicals got together and recorded a Christmas album Save the Children Christmas. I purchased the 2 cassette version and was totally blown away. My favorite is Ding, Dong Merrily On High skillfully merged with O Come All Ye Faithful. 

Imagine my surprise when I found the entire video set on YouTube with the first two songs being Ding, Dong Merrily On High / O Come All Ye Faithful. I was over the moon and about jumped on the library’s table dancing with joy.

This arrangement makes me fall to my knees and gives me goosebumps. One of the local radio DJ’s at the time said the same things when he played it one day.

While the first two songs are the reason I posted this, please watch the entire video. It is wonderful and contains solo’s from musical theater legends as Sara Brightman and Michael Crawford.

 

Weekend Wisdom

Weekend Wisdom: Let’s Get A Little Ding Dong

Michele Kearns

There once was a album/tape released entitled “Save The Children Christmas Carols and Festive Songs.”  Here is the link to the description from CD Universe:

On the second disc are the songs “Ding Dong Merrily On High” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”  The songs were sung by 2 different casts but edited so there is a seamless transition from one to the other.   This arrangement gave me goosebumps and brought me to my knees the first time I heard it.  Ever since then, these have become my favorite Christmas Songs.

If you have not heard it CD Universe has the tracks available for download and hopefully iTunes does as well.  I have not found a link on YouTube – darn!

“Ding Dong Merrily On High”

Ding dong! merrily on high,
In heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv’n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E’en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And “Io, io, io!”
By priest and people sungen.

[Refrain]

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers

Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful
By: John F. Wade

Oh, come, all ye faithful, 
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels:
Oh, come, let us adore him, 
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Highest, most holy,
Light of light eternal,
Born of a virgin,
A mortal he comes;
Son of the Father 
Now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him, 
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:
Oh, come, let us adore him, 
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

 
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, 
Now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him, 
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Hymn # 41 from Lutheran Worship
Composer: John F. Wade
Tune: Adeste Fideles
1st Published in: 1767