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What Child is This?Joy to the WorldO Holy Night
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Music to touch your
spirit. . .
"I might
not be a religious man myself but I know good music when I hear it, and this is very
good! . . . I don’t think that I have ever given such high
ratings to so many songs before. But
the fact is that they are well deserved because the
music is amazing. Simply wonderful religious ballads and they
really get to your heart. . .everytime."
Fredrik Cole: Trax In Space
What Child is This?
What child is this, who, laid to
rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the Son of Mary.
Arrangement Copyright © 2000 Don Wigton
This famous modal melody, that began
as the English folk song “Greensleves”, was adapted to the Christmas story by
William Dix. He was stricken with illness and under deep depression when he met God in a
personal way. This heart-rending hymn, that came out of this illuminating experience, has
been arranged instrumentally by Don in a manner that captures, with its tender acoustic
guitar and piano accented by buoyant strings the ancient mood of this favorite Christmas
song.
Song Story
Even before I was a Christian, this
song stood out as one of my favorite melodies. The first time I heard it was when I saw
the movie “How the West Was One.” “Greensleves”, as the melody is
called, stood as the major theme of this epic. It was later as a Christian that I
discovered that this melody that I adored was adapted as a Christmas praise hymn.
Naturally, as I began to put together Christmas instrumentals this song stood on the top
of my list.
The melody goes way back to the 1500’s and was an English folk song that was
mentioned by Shakespeare in one of his plays. It was an insurance salesman, William Dix,
who adapted the popular English melody to Christianity. Dix’s father, a surgeon, wrote a biography of poet Thomas
Chatterton, and gave his son his middle name in his honor. When he was young, William
attended the Bristol Grammar School. Later, he managed a marine insurance company in
Glasgow, Scotland. His heart, though, was in the poetry of worship. As a result of this love he wrote more than 40
hymns over the course of his life.
When he was 29, Dix was stricken with
a serious illness that left him in despair. It was while he was bed ridden, though, that
God met him in a very personal way. This spiritual experience led to the composition of
“What Child is This?” As with so many things that come out of an
individual’s trail and tribulation, the Body of Christ have been the beneficiary of
this remarkable inspiring praise song.
When arranging it for the Wigtune Christmas CD “O Come Let Us Adore Him”, I
wanted to make it as simple as possible, yet with the dynamic accents that makes the
chorus so powerful. To keep it delicate, and to fit with the Baroque feel of the Christmas
CD, I began the song with a light piano with the acoustic guitars playing the melody
above, As the song progresses, strings filter in to add depth to the piece. During the
later playing of the chorus you can hear a B3 in the distant background that causes the
song to swell delicately to the proclamation that Christ is King!
When I played this song for Vanessa she cried as she was overwhelmed with passion for the
Lord. She is my litmus test and, since this was the first time this ever happened, I
concluded that I had reached the goal that I was after in arranging the song. The tune is
deep with feeling and I pray that as you listen to it that you are filled with the same
inspiration that moved Vanessa to tears.
Joy
to the World
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness.
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Arrangement Copyright © 2000 Don Wigton
Isaac Watts based this jubilant Hymn
on psalm 98 which declares, “Shout for joy to the Lord. ..burst into jubilant song
with music.” This melodic instrumental by Don with its lighthearted acoustic guitars
and delicate piano with a touch of joyous strings captures the excitement of this ecstatic
praise. We pray that you will filled with joy to the Lord as you experience the thrill of
praise to God that is captured in this piece.
Song Story
Isaac
Watts is no doubt the greatest of all English hymn writers. Son of Nonconformist imprisoned twice for his religious views,
Watts learned Greek, Latin, and Hebrew under Mr. Pinhorn, rector of All Saints, and
headmaster of the Grammar School in Southampton. Isaac’s taste for verse
showed itself in early childhood, and his promise caused a local doctor and other friends
to offer him a university education, assuming he would be ordained in the Church of
England. However, Isaac declined and instead entered a Nonconformist Academy at Stoke
Newington in 1690, under the care of Mr. Thomas Rowe, pastor of the Independent
congregation at Girdlers’ Hall; Isaac joined this congregation in 1693.
Watts left the Academy at
age 20 and spent two years at home; it was during this period that he wrote the bulk of
his Hymns and Spiritual Songs. They were sung from manuscripts in the Southampton
Chapel, and published 1707-1709.
The next six years of his
life were again spent at Stoke Newington, working as tutor to the son of eminent Puritan
Sir John Hartopp. The intense study of these years is reflected in the theological and
philosophical material he subsequently published.
Watts preached his first
sermon at age 24. In the next three years he preached frequently, and in 1702 was ordained
as pastor of the Independent congregation in Mark Lane. At that time he moved into the
house of a Mr. Hollis in the Minories. His health began to fail the next year, and Samuel
Price was appointed as his assistant in the ministry. In 1712, a fever shattered his
constitution, and Price became co-pastor of the congregation, which had moved to a new
chapel in Bury Street. It was at this time that Isaac became the guest of Sir Thomas
Abney. He lived with Abney (and later Abney’s widow) the rest of his life, mainly at
Theobalds in Herts, then for 13 years at Stoke Newington.
In 1728, the University of
Edinburgh awarded Watts a Doctor of Divinity degree.
Watts based the lyrics of his song
“Joy to the World” on the last half of psalm 98. “Shout for the joy of the
Lord, all the earth,” the Scripture reads, “burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with
trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn -- shout for joy before the Lord, the
King.”
“Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let
the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before
the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and
the peoples with equity.”
Though neither this psalm nor Watt’s “Joy to the World” mention the birth
of Christ, this has become a favorite Christmas song. Indeed, a shout of celebrative
praise is appropriate when reflecting on the birth of Christ. This hymn lauds God’s
involvement with His people which began in a stable in Bethlehem and will culminate in His
Second Coming as psalm 98 speaks of. All of us, when thinking of the wonder of God
becoming man should “Shout for joy to the Lord. .” and “burst into jubilant
song with music.” This exciting hymn does exactly that.
When I started to arrange this hymn I had several different directions that I thought I
might go. I thought of creating a grandiose version of it complete with powerful strings,
ecstatic piano over a driving rhythm section. I considered just a piano version. Finally,
I opted for something in between with light-and-airy guitars with a piano floating above.
The result was a “Baroque feel” that enchanted Vanessa to such a degree that I
decided that the style should permeate the entire Wigtune Christmas instrumental CD
“O Come Let Us Adore Him.”
This turned out to be an exciting arrangement of this joyous praise hymn that I’m
certain you will consider to be very unique. (Vanessa says it reminds her of Vivaldi) In
addition, the venerate tone will most certainly lift your spirits to praise as you dwell
on the miracle of Christ’s virgin birth and His eventual return to earth as King of
kings and Lord of lords.
O holy night! The stars are brightly
shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Arrangement Copyright © 1999 Don
Wigton
This is one of the most dynamic
Christmas praise hymns ever written. Don’s instrumental arrangement here captures the
tenderness of Christmas night as it begins with the nimble plucking of acoustic guitars. A
light piano eventually filters in followed by luscious strings, building to an inspiring
climax that calls on us to fall to our knees in worship of God incarnate.
Song
Story
"As always from this group,
sample quality is top notch. Very beautiful, relaxing, and shows some excellent artistic
talent. A very beautiful piano arrangement for Silent Night!" Roncli: Trax In Space
Placide Clappeau, an elderly wine merchant and mayor of Roquemaure in France, wrote poems
for his own enjoyment. One of these poems,
written in 1847, became the text of the beloved Christmas praise hymn O Holy Night.
Adolphe Adam, a Parisian composer, composed the music.
It was the baritone Faure who made the song famous. It could be heard as far away
as Louisiana at the Midnight Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of Saint Louis in New
Orleans where Acadians and Creoles of French ancestry gathered together.
When I was young, this was one of my favorite Christmas songs. Though I was not a
Christian, I was always tremendously moved when out junior high choirs sang O Holy Night.
It has always been one of those songs that gives me tingles and, when in a reflective
mood, makes me cry.
Later, as a pastor at Calvary Chapel Bakersfield during the early 80s, I was asked to
accompany our church soprano who sang the piece. It was then when my arrangement of O Holy
Night began. However, it was not until 1999, when I was putting together the Wigtune
Christmas CD O Come Let Us Adore Him, that I decided to record it.
I deliberated for quite a long time on whether I would begin it with piano or guitar. I
had always played it on piano, so to begin that way was my natural inclination. However, I
defied my habits and started it with acoustic guitars. Yet I could not put off the piano
too long, so it arrives immediately in the second verse. Usually, when I would play it
live, the piano would come out very stately, because that is how we sang it way back in
junior high. However, again I defied gravity and utilized a very airy and delicate piano.
When the strings come it, they do so with the same tenderness, yet a fulfilling crescendo
still builds to a satisfying climax.
This great song powerfully glorifies our Savior who came to earth to die for us. As you
praise God in its listening, I pray, therefore, that this arrangement will make O Holy
Night one of your favorites too!
is a subsidiary of
Wigtune Company, formed as a service to the body of Christ. Our vision is to
encourage scriptural worship in the Church by offering free praise music and hymns
performed in a contemporary manner along with a free on-line worship study book for
personal devotions, Bible study groups, Sunday schools, pastors, music ministers and
ministry training. The worship study book lends theological and historical
support to the use of traditional Christian hymn-singing in conjunction with praise chorus
singing. Click on one of the links below to enter into the Wigtune resource that interests
you !
Vision Statement
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Copyright © 1999 Don Wigton. All rights reserved.
Patriotic Hymns 1
| Patriotic Hymns 2
Christmas Hymns
1 | Christmas Hymns 2 | Christmas
Hymns 3 | Christmas Hymns 4
Hymns 1 | Hymns 2 | Hymns 3 | Hymns
4 | Hymns 5 | Hymns 6 | Hymns 7 | Hymns 8 | Hymns
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