2 Jan 2011

Caleb R.

Terry C
Shankar R., Hong Lu, Foong Yee

Meng Fhui, Jocelyn Lee
Ken Fhui, Weng Ern
Jaemy C .

Moses Tan

Hiew, Tommy Q.

12th day of Christmas: Go tell it on the mountain

Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere,

Go tell it on the mountain, Our Jesus Christ is born.

When I was a seeker I sought both night and day,

I asked the Lord to help me, And he showed me the way.

He made me a watchman Upon a city wall,

And if I am a Christian, I am the least of all.

The words and lyrics of the spiritual Christmas Carol 'Go tell it to the Mountain 'are by John W. Work, Jr. (1872-1925). John Work was famous for Folk Songs of the American Negro in Nashville, Tennessee in 1907. He graduated from Fisk University in 1898 and became a teacher. He died on September 7th 1925 in Nashville, the same town he was born in.

Our grateful thanks goes to Eric Halstead for giving his kind permission to play his self sequenced midi file of this superb piano rendition of this Christmas Carol.

11th day of Christmas: The First Noel

The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star Shining in the East beyond them far

And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star Three Wise men came from country far

To seek for a King was their intent And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest O'er Bethlehem it took its rest

And there it did both Pause and stay Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those Wise men three Full reverently upon their knee

And offered there in His presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord

That hath made Heaven and earth of nought And with his blood mankind has bought.

The First Noel is unknown in origin but is generally thought to be English dating back to the sixteenth century. There is a misconception that the First Noel was French and it is believed that this is because of the French spelling of Noel as opposed to the olde English Anglo-Saxon spelling of the word as in Nowell. After England was captured by the Normans numerous words were adopted from the Norman French language and Noel was re-spelt as Nowell, early printed versions of this carol use the Nowell spelling. The First Noel was first published in 1833 when it appeared in "Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern," a collection of seasonal carols gathered by William B. Sandys.

10th day of Christmas: O come, O come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,

In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe.

The favourite O Come, O Come Emmanuel carol was originally written in Latin text in the 12th Century. The author of the words and composer to the music of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is unknown. It is , however believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. The Latin was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.

9th day of Christmas: Angels from the realms of glory

Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o'er all the earth;

Ye who sang creation's story, Now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Come and worship, Come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding, Watching o'er your flocks by night,

God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant Light;

Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar;

Seek the great desire of nations, Ye have seen His natal star;

Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear,

Suddenly the Lord, descending, In His temple shall appear:

The author of Angels From the Realms of Glory was an Irishman called James Montgomery. He came from a religious family background and sadly his parents, who were missionaries died following their vocation. Angels From the Realms of Glory was written in 1816. The music for Angels From the Realms of Glory was composed by Henry Smart. The lyrics of Angels From the Realms of Glory tell the story of the shepherds, sages and Saints.

8th day of Christmas: Away in a manger

Away in a manger, No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus Look down from the sky
And stay by my side, 'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven To live with Thee there



Away in a manager is always the first carol that children are taught. Away in a Manger was originally published in 1885. The publication of Away in a Manger was in a Lutheran Sunday school book and this created the misconception that the lyrics of Away in a Manger were actually written by Martin Luther himself. The author is unknown. The music to Away in a Manger was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895.

7th day of Christmas: Hark the herald angels sing

Hark the herald angels sing " Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth




“Hark the herald angels sing” Christmas Carol was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church, in 1739. A sombre man, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics and thus “Hark the herald angels sing” was sung to a different tune initially. Over a hundred years later Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. English musician William H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s music to fit the lyrics of “Hark the herald angels sing” already written by Wesley.