The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

On Christmas Night

Also known as
On Christmas Night True Christians Sing
On Christmas Night All Christians Sing
The Sussex Carol

Version 1

Tune and text collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1919
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML / PDF

1. On Christmas night true Christians sing
To hear what news the angel bring
News of great joy, cause of great mirth
Good tidings of the Saviour's birth
Good tidings of the Saviour's birth

2. Angels with joy sing in the air,
No music may with theirs compare;
While prisoners in their chains rejoice
To hear the echoes of that voice.

3. So how on earth can men be sad,
When Jesus comes to make us glad;
From sin and hell to set us free,
And buy for us our liberty?

4. Let sin depart, while we His grace,
And glory see in Jesus' face;
For so shall we sure comforts find
When thus this day we bear in mind.

5. And from the darkness we have light,
Which makes the Angels sing this night:
"Glory to God, His peace to men,
Both now and evermore." Amen.

Sheet Music from Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878).

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Note: The R. Vaughan Williams arrangement for SATB can be obtained from Stainer & Bell, Ltd., London, either as a part of Eight Traditional English Carols or separately as A Sussex Carol ("On Christmas Night").

Earthly Delights: Xmas Carols

"Though often called 'Sussex Carol' after the region in which it was collected by Cecil Sharp and Vaughan Williams from Mrs. [Harriet Verrall] of Monk's Gate in the early 20th century, the carol was first published in a work by an Irish [Franciscan] bishop, Luke Wadding, Small Garland of Pious and Godly Songs, Ghent, 1684. It is not clear whether Wadding wrote the song or was recording an earlier composition. The tune to which it is sung today is the one Williams took down from Mrs. Verrall and published in 1919."

 

Additional Notes:

Bishop Wadding's Christmas carols have been reprinted several times, most recently by M. H. Gill & Son in 1960 with the title "A pious garland : being the December letter and Christmas carols of Luke Wadding, Bishop of Ferns, 1683-1688 / with an introduction by Thomas Wall." I have also seen the title "The Christmas Songs of Luke Wadding: Bishop of Ferns, 1683 - 1688" (same publisher).

Additional information about Bishop Wadding can be found in "The Carols of Luke Waddinge," a web page at "Ask About Ireland" (http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/life-society/traditions-and-customs/the-kilmore-carols/the-carols-of-luke-waddin/; accessed June 2, 2009). This page is part of a larger discussion of the Kilmore Carols, plus the Christmas contributions of Rev. William Devereux, P.P. (1696-1771), "A New Garland, containing songs for Christmas."

The town of Kilmore is located in the county of Wexford which has a long tradition of carols, including the well-known Wexford Carol ("Good people all, this Christmas-time"). I have seen a reference to Wexford Carols, and will be performing additional research.

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