CAROLING

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

gallery rotunda | december 8, 9, 15 & 16, 2018

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All caroling sessions are scheduled at 1:30 and 2:30 

in the West Building Rotunda

United States Army Chorus

MSG Jason Gottshall, conductor 

Fort Myer, Virginia

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Encore Chorale 

Jeanne Kelly, director 

Washington, DC

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Westminster Presbyterian Choir and Ringers

Benjamin Hutchens, director

Alexandria, Virginia 

Saturday, December 15, 2018 

Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School Choir 

Kelly Kingett, director

Dumfries, Virginia

Sunday, December 16, 2018 

The Gallery extends its thanks to the choirs 

leading the community caroling this year.

CAROLERS

American 19th Century, New England Farm in 

Winter (detail), 1850 or after, National Gallery 

of Art, Washington, Gift of Edgar William and 

Bernice Chrysler Garbisch 

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CAROLS

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow in a one-horse 

 open sleigh,

O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way.

Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits bright,

What fun it is to laugh and sing a sleighing 

 song tonight.

Refrain: Jingle bells, jingle bells, 

jingle all the way! O what fun it is to ride 

in a one-horse open sleigh.

(Repeat)

Day or two ago, I thought I’d take a ride,

And soon Miss Fannie Bright was seated 

 by my side.

The horse was lean and lank, misfortune 

 was his lot,

He got into a drifted bank, and Wo! 

 We got upsot.

(Refrain)

Deck the Hall

Deck the hall with boughs of holly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

’Tis the season to be jolly,

Fa la la . . .

Don we now our gay apparel,

Fa la la . . .

Troll the ancient yuletide carol,

Fa la la . . . 

See the blazing yule before us,

Fa la la . . .

Strike the harp and join the chorus,

Fa la la . . .

Follow me in merry measure,

Fa la la . . .

While I tell of yuletide treasure,

Fa la la . . .

Fast away the old year passes,

Fa la la . . .

Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,

Fa la la . . .

Sing we joyous altogether,

Fa la la . . .

Heedless of the wind and weather,

Fa la la . . .

Harry Gottlieb, Winter on the Creek (detail), 1940, 

National Gallery of Art, Washington, Reba and Dave 

Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
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We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Refrain: We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

Good tidings we bring

To you and your kin,

Good tidings for Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

(Refrain)

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and 

 triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold him, born the King 

 of Angels;

Refrain: O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation!

O sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above:

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

(Refrain)

The First Noel

The first noel, the angel did say,

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields 

where 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.

Noel, Noel . . .

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus lay down his 

 sweet head;

The stars in the sky looked down 

 where he lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, 

But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from

 the sky

And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh.

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.

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.

Silent Night

Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright

’Round yon virgin mother and child,

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar,

Heav’nly hosts sing: “Alleluia!”

Christ the savior is born,

Christ the savior is born.
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O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

Thy branches are unchanging.

(Repeat)

Not only green when summer’s here,

But also when it’s cold and drear.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

Thy branches are unchanging.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

Thou hast a wondrous message.

(Repeat)

The sight of thee at Christmastide

Spreads hope and gladness far and wide.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

Thou hast a wondrous message.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,

Lean your ear this way;

Don’t you tell a single soul

What I’m going to say;

Christmas Eve is coming soon,

Now, you dear old man,

Whisper what you’ll bring to me,

Tell me, if you can.

Johnny wants a pair of skates,

Suzy wants a sled; 

Nellie wants a picture book, 

Yellow, blue, and red;

Now I think I’ll leave to you

What to give the rest;

Choose for me, dear Santa Claus,

What you think is best.

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.

Hark! The herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!”
The department of music produced this program. Copyright © 2017 Board of Trustees, 

National Gallery of Art, Washington

Cover Henry Bukowski, Clear & Cold (detail), c. 1939, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Reba and Dave Williams 

Collection, Gift of the Print Research Foundation. Back cover Marguerite Zorach, Christmas Mail (detail), completed 

1930, inscribed 1936, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Collection of the Zorach Children

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