Hark! The Herald Angels Sing✧
The bright Mendelssohn hymn tune, complete with the soaring final refrain.
Sheet music
Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear it.
Hark! The herald angels sing
Peace on earth
Joyful, all ye nations
With the angelic hosts
Hark! The herald angels sing · refrain
D whistle · G major · 4/4 · 110 BPM · + upper octave
Hark! The herald angels sing
Peace on earth
Joyful, all ye nations
With the angelic hosts
Hark! The herald angels sing · refrain
Lyrics
Charles Wesley, altered by historical hymn editors · first verse
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’ angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King.”
About this tune
The familiar tune combines music by Felix Mendelssohn with an adaptation by William Hayman Cummings. It accompanies Charles Wesley’s Christmas hymn in its later revised wording.
The melody moves from a firm opening to a high, celebratory refrain. Repeated notes and broad leaps give the soprano melody its celebratory character.