Doreen Rao - Sing, Choirs of Heaven

  
The sixteen-measure original melody and German text with tis pious simplicity-All Heaven and Earth rejoice and praise the Child in the manger-was first printed as an unaccompanied tune in the Strafburger Gesangbuch (Strasbourg Song Book), the year being 1697.



This completely new English version expands the single original verse to two in which the Christ child is seen as a gift from heaven and a chance for peace among teh people of earth.

The melodic span remains primarily within an octave above middle c and is thus ideal for children's voices which cannot range as far as those of an adult singer. Ideally, the harp accompaniment should be but a silvery twinkle in the background, except for the interludes. If it is played on the piano or organ an equivalent sound should be sought.