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![]() | CHRISTMAS (Handel)Composer: George Frideric Handel (1728)Published in 72 hymnals Printable scores: PDF, Sibelius Audio files: MIDI | |
George Frideric Handel (German: Georg Friedrich Händel; pronounced [ˈhɛndəl]) (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music. He received critical musical training in Halle, Hamburg and Italy before settling in London (1712) and becoming a naturalised British subject in 1727. By then he was strongly influenced by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.
Within fifteen years, Handel, a dramatic genius, started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera, but the public came to hear the vocal bravu… Go to person page >| Composer: | George Frideric Handel (1728) |
| Meter: | 8.6.8.6.6 |
| Incipit: | 34517 65123 34555 |
| Key: | D Major |
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
an angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.
Go to text page >
Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on;
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.
Go to text page >
| Instances (23) | First Line | Text Title | Refrain First Line | Authors | Composers | Meter | Scripture | Tune Title | Tune Key | Incipit | Languages | Publication Date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptist Hymnal 2008 #203 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | George Frederick Handel | CHRISTMAS | C Major | English | 2008 | |||||||||
| Celebrating Grace Hymnal #123 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | George Frederick Handel | 8.6.8.6 | Luke 2:8-16 | CHRISTMAS | D Flat Major | English | 2010 | |||||||
| Celebration Hymnal #272 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | George Frederick Handel | CHRISTMAS | C Major | 1997 | |||||||||||
| Chalice Hymnal #154 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | George Frederick Handel | 8.6.8.6 | Luke 2:8-14 | CHRISTMAS | D Major | 1995 | ||||||||
| Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #528 | Lowell Mason; George Frederick Handel | 8.6.8.6 | CHRISTMAS | 345176512334555 | 2007 | ||||||||||||
| Christmas Favorites #15 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | [While shepherds watched their flocks by night] | 2000 | ||||||||||||||
| Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #232 | How precious is the Book Divine | How Precious Is the Book Divine | J. Fawcett, 1740-1817 | G. F. Handel, 1685-1759 | 8.6.8.8.6 | SIROË | C Major | English | 1996 | ||||||||
| Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #546 | Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve | Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751 | George Frideric Handel, 1685-1759 | 8.6.8.6.6 | SIROË | D Major | English | 1985 | |||||||||
| Hymns of Faith #135 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | George Frederick Handel | Luke 2:8-14 | [While shepherds watched their flocks by night] | C Major | 1980 | |||||||||
| Nyimbo za Imani Yetu #54A | Usiku walipoketi wachunga wa kondoo | USIKU WALIPOKETI | Christmas | English; Swahili | 2003 | ||||||||||||
| Presbyterian Hymnal #59 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | George Frederick Handel; Lowell Mason | 8.6.8.6 D | Luke 2:10-14 | CHRISTMAS | D Major | English | 1990 | |||||||
| Rejoice in the Lord #200 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | Lowell Mason | 8.6.8.6 | Luke 2:8-15 | CHRISTMAS | D Major | English | 1985 | |||||||
| Revival Hymns and Choruses #159 | While Shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate, 1652-1715 | George F. Handel, 1685-1759 | CHRISTMAS | C Major | English | 1982 | |||||||||
| Sing Joyfully #197 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | George Frederick Handel | [While shepherds watched their flocks by night] | C Major | English | 1989 | |||||||||
| The Christian Life Hymnal #125 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | Christmas | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
| The Covenant Hymnal: a worshipbook #156 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate, 1652-1715 | George Frideric Handel, 1685-1759 | 8.6.8.6 | CHRISTMAS | C Major | 1996 | |||||||||
| The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #135 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | George Frederick Handel | CHRISTMAS | C Major | 1986 | ||||||||||
| The New Century Hymnal #491 | Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve | Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve | Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751 | G. F. Handel | 8.6.8.6 | 2 Timothy 4:7-8; Philippians 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:1 | CHRISTMAS | D Major | 1995 | ||||||||
| The United Methodist Hymnal #236 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | G. F. Handel | 8.6.8.6 | Luke 2:8-14 | CHRISTMAS | D Major | English | 1989 | |||||||
| Trinity Hymnal #223 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate | Lowell Mason; George Frederick Handel | 8.6.8.6 with repeat | Luke 2:8-14 | CHRISTMAS | C Major | English | 1990 | |||||||
| Trinity Hymnal #576 | Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve | Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every Nerve | Philip Doddridge | Lowell Mason; George Frederick Handel | 8.6.8.6 with repeat | Hebrews 12:2; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25; Ephesians 6:10-11; Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 9 | CHRISTMAS | C Major | English | 1990 | |||||||
| Worship and Rejoice #228 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks | Nahum Tate, 1652-1715 | George Frideric Handel, 1685-1759 | 8.6.8.6 | John 1:14; Luke 2:8-14; Philippians 2:1-11 | CHRISTMAS | C Major | 2001 | ||||||||
| Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal #97 | While shepherds watched their flocks by night | Christmas | 1996 |
