The beloved Christmas hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," has a fascinating history, involving two major figures from different centuries and a bit of serendipitous adaptation. Here's a breakdown of its journey: 1. **The Lyrics - Charles Wesley (1739):** * **Origin:** The words were originally written by **Charles Wesley** (1707-1788), the prolific English hymn writer and co-founder of Methodism, in **1739**. * **Original Title & Opening:** Wesley's original hymn began with the line, "**Hark! How All the Welkin Rings**," and continued "Glory to the King of Kings." "Welkin" is an archaic word for "sky" or "heavens." * **Content:** Wesley's hymn was a profound theological reflection on the Incarnation of Christ, emphasizing themes like peace on earth, God's reconciliation with humanity, and Christ's divine nature. It comprised ten four-line stanzas. * **Music:** When Wesley wrote it, the hymn was sung to various solemn, slower tunes common in Anglican and Methodist worship of the time. It certainly wasn't the triumphant melody we know today. 2. **Lyrical Revisions - George Whitefield (1753):** * **The Change:** Around **1753**, Wesley's fellow evangelist, **George Whitefield** (1714-1770), published a revised version of the hymn in his hymnal. * **Impact:** Whitefield made crucial changes, most notably altering the opening line to the much more familiar and immediate, "**Hark! The Herald Angels Sing**." He also changed "Christ, the everlasting Lord" to "Christ, the Lord, by all adored," among other minor tweaks, making the hymn more accessible and singable for congregational use. * **Structure:** Whitefield also condensed the hymn, resulting in a structure closer to the three verses commonly sung today. 3. **The Music - Felix Mendelssohn (1840):** * **Origin:** The iconic tune we associate with the hymn was composed by the German master **Felix Mendelssohn** (1809-1847) in **1840**. * **Original Purpose:** Ironically, Mendelssohn's music was *not* intended for a hymn, and certainly not for Christmas! He wrote it as part of a secular cantata, a "Festgesang" (Hymn of Praise), to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. The specific tune is from the second chorus of the cantata, beginning "Vaterland, in deinen Gauen" (Fatherland, in your valleys). * **Mendelssohn's Intent:** Mendelssohn was quite firm that he did not want this particular music adapted for sacred words. He wrote, "I hope it will not be given to sacred words." 4. **The Unification - William H. Cummings (1855):** * **The Pairing:** The brilliant idea of setting Wesley's (and Whitefield's revised) lyrics to Mendelssohn's triumphant music came from an English organist and composer named **William H. Cummings** (1831-1903). * **Adaptation:** In **1855**, Cummings adapted Mendelssohn's melody, adjusting it slightly to fit the meter of the hymn's lyrics. He recognized that the joyous, majestic tune perfectly matched the celebratory message of Christ's birth. * **Impact:** This pairing was an instant success. The majestic, soaring melody gave the hymn the grandeur and joy it needed to become a Christmas classic. **In summary:** "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a beautiful example of how great poetry and music, though conceived separately, can come together to create something even more profound and enduring. Charles Wesley provided the deep theological reflection, George Whitefield gave it the catchy, angelic opening, Mendelssohn composed a glorious, celebratory tune for a completely different purpose, and William H. Cummings had the genius to unite them into the beloved Christmas hymn we cherish today.