Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-20

dunn" originally carol OF spring, but
sung in English TO the words OF Good
King weneeslas,"
Some OF the best .known Christmas
hymns are OF truly ancient origin Also
The ''Adeste Fidelis' is of doubtful au-
thorship and its origin by some Is said
TO go back to tho thirteenth century
while others asoribe Il 10 the year 1850.
Whatever the date. II Is OF Roman
Catholic origin, but a Christian hymn
qualified to be sung by the universal
church. This hymn, with It's primitive
music, was known as the midnight
mass" and was the professional song
| OF religious orders on their way TO the
sanctuaries, where they gathered In
preparation for the Christmas morning
service The modern hymn by which We
know II called the "Portugs'ese Hymn,
| Is also Of uncertain authorship and sup
nosed TO date from 1880 II In said to have
been written for this hymn and later
adapted 70 "How Firm n Foundation"
! ''Jark, the Herald Angels Sing" was
written by Charles Wesley. but later
changed in places by Rev Martin MADAM,
and fifth verse added by John Wesley
| The music is from Mendelssohn's cantata
| God is Light" Joy 20 the World, the
/ Lord is Come was written by Dr. Watts
| in l7l9 the popular tune, Antioch" is
an adaptation from Handlers Messiah"
"oh Little Town OF Bethlehem Ia an
American hymn. The words were writ
ten by Phillips Brooks, who was for
many years the eloquent bishop of Massa4
| ehusetts. He was born In Boston In 1886
and died in 1898. The hymn was written
in 1868, and II is considered by Brown
and Butterworth IN their stories OF
hymn tunes as the ripened thought Of
his visit TO Bethlehem two years be-
fore. There arc two or three tunes to
which this hymn is sung, bat the ono
which has the credit of carrying IL TO
popularity is called ST. Louis and was
written by Lewis Henry Redner, who
was organist OF tho Church OF the Holy
Trinity. Philadelphia, OF which Rector
Brooks was then In charge. He was az
devoted to the interests of tho Sunday
school, for whose use the hymn was writ
ten, as was Brooks, and he had promised
to write a score TO which It could be sung
the following Sunday. waking IN the
middle OF the night after a busy satur-
| 80 SssNN SNhe MN W Deu Win MS brain
In a whirl, he heard an angel strain. and
Immediately rose and prlcked the notes
OF the melody. The tune had come lust
in time to be sung"
There is good Christmas music in many
or the larger forms. Palestrina wrote a
Christmas motel which is noted for its
Fexeellence, and among the oratorioH
Bachs Christmas Oratorio.p IAazt' $
Christmas oratorio from the "Christus. -
and the first part OF the Messiah" arc
OF lasting musical worth. In instrument
tai music bryan music is, of course. OK
ceptionally rich In Christmas numbers.
many Of them being based upon some old
German chorale OF Christmas folk song.
Beside all these there are anthems. can
tatas and solos In great profusion which
treat OF this same season. At the various
churches people will probably have the
opportunity OF hearing some of the old
and some OF the new. but all bearing
upon the glad "tidnes OF comfort and
Joy"
BY the way, why wouldn't a season
ticket 10 the Mendelssohn choir concerts
make nice Christmas present to give ?
Musical Notes.
Henry Cox announces an informal re-
cital of violin and cello music TO be
given In the recital hall OF the Omaha
School Of Orchestral Instruments at