Rejoyce, Rejoyce, Ye Mortals All Rejoyce

A Christmas Hymn

Words: Anonymous

Music: William Knapp

Source: William Knapp, ed., Anthems for Christmas Day (London: Robert Brown, et al., 1744), pp. 24-26.

1. Rejoyce, rejoyce, ye Mortals all rejoyce,
And pierce the Skies with a melodious Voice
No Song so sweet, no Notes too high to sing.
The great and matchless Goodness of our heav'nly King.

Chorus (Sing this Chorus at the End of every Verse)
O how can Men forbear to sing,
When Earth with Angels Notes do ring.

2. Shall Angels sing, and shall Men silent be;
Nor imitate their Heav'nly Harmony?
Rouse up my Soul, declare that on this Morn,
Unto Mankind on Earth, is a Messiah born.

3. Glory to God and Joy to all above,
The Earth is crown'd with Plenty, Men with Love;
Thus sing the heav'nly Host, in bright Array,
Good Will to Men, the Prince of Peace is born this Day.

Sheet Music from  William Knapp, ed., Anthems for Christmas Day (London: Robert Brown, et al., 1744), pp. 24-26.

Sheet Music From John Arnold, ed., The Compleat Psalmodist. First Edition. Book 4 of 4. (London: A. Pearson, 1741), pp. 1-3.

Sheet Music From John Arnold, ed., The Compleat Psalmodist. Third Edition. Book 4 of 4. (London: Robert Brown, 1753), pp. 3-4.

Notes.

Verse 1 is an adaptation of the first verse from "A Hymn for Christmas Day:"

Rejoice, rejoice, ye Mortals, all rejoice,
And pierce the Skies with melodious Voice.
No note too sweet, no sound too high,
Our Saviour's Name to magnify.

See: John Arnold, ed., The Compleat Psalmodist. First Edition. Book 4 of 4. (London: A. Pearson, 1741), pp. 1-3. The text and sheet music is above.

The first line of verse 2 is from a poem "On The Nativity" by Edward Speake:

"Shall Angels sing, and shall men silent be?
Christ's birth was not for them, good man, but thee."

See: Edward Sparke, Scintilla Altaris, or, On primitive devotions in the feasts and fasts of the Churchs of England. Third Edition. (London: R. Wood, 1663), pp. 64-67.

Free sheet music is available for this piece for non-commercial use from Roding Music, both vocals and vocals with keyboard. The Christmas Carols page has links to this and other carols sung in the West Galley tradition.

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