CDHLL7504 - Disc 1 Track 7 - Joy to the world - Hyperion Records

Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.

Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.

Don't show me this message again

Joy to the world

composer

Anonymous - Baroque

tune name sometimes given as Antioch; often, if improbably, attributed to Lowell Mason (1792-1872); published in William Holford's Voce di Melodia (c1834); also associated with Handel

arranger

John Rutter (b1945)

author of text

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

after Psalm 98

The musical origins of this nineteenth-century Christmas hymn are not clear. It appeared under the title Antioch in an English collection of 1834, then in a number of hymnals edited by the American Lowell Mason, who was the first to wed it to Isaac Watts’s text. Both collections describe it as ‘from Handel’, perhaps on the strength of the resemblance of its opening phrase to 'Glory to God' and 'Lift up your heads' from Messiah. John Rutter’s setting, made in 1981 at the request of his American publisher, was conceived as a tribute to the tune’s presumed Handelian parentage.

Né à Southampton, Isaac Watts était un pasteur qui écrivait des essais théologiques et à qui l’on doit près de cinq cents hymnes. En 1719, il écrivit Joy to the world en s’appuyant sur le Psaume 98. Cent cinquante ans plus tard, le compositeur américain Dr Lowell Mason—qui composa plus de mille six cents pièces sacrées—mit ces paroles en musique sur une nouvelle mélodie inspirée de thèmes de Haendel, et c’est dans cette version que ce morceau est passé à la postérité.

extrait des notes rédigées par David Wishart © 2003
Français: David Ylla-Somers

Der im südenglischen Southampton geborene Isaac Watts war Prediger, Autor von Kommentaren zu Religionsfragen und Urheber von fast fünfhundert Kirchenliedern; 1719 schrieb er Joy to the world auf der Grundlage des 98. Psalms. Einhundertfünfzig Jahre später versah der amerikanische Komponist Dr. Lowell Mason, der mehr als eintausendsechshundert sakrale Musikwerke zu Papier brachte, diesen Text mit einer neuen Vertonung, gegründet auf Themenmaterial von Händel, und diese Fassung ist zur allgemein anerkannten geworden.

aus dem Begleittext von David Wishart © 2003
Deutsch: Anne Steeb/Bernd Müller

Recordings

Christmas Classics

The Hallé Orchestra, Carl Davis (conductor)

CDHLL7504Download only

‘Carl Davis provides some lovely arrangements of well tried and much loved pieces’ (Classical.net)» More

Christmas Star

The Cambridge Singers, John Rutter (conductor)

CSCD503Download only

'I can't imagine any Christmas recording bringing more happiness' (Gramophone)
'New life is breathed into the old favourites, and I guarantee that whatever your musical tastes, you will be bowled over by the quality of the music. ...» More

Favourite Carols from King's

King's College Choir Cambridge, Sir Stephen Cleobury (conductor)

Studio Master: KGS0007Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

Favourite Carols from King’s is a collection of the most popular carols featured in the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols over the years, and a tribute to the King’s Christmas tradition.» More

Joy to the World

Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt (conductor)

CDH55161

‘Altogether a very enjoyable disc’ (Organists' Review)
‘As beautiful as anything you will hear this festive season’ (Yorkshire Post)» More

Joy to the World

The King's Singers

Studio Master: SIGCD268Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

Joy to the World is the King's Singers second Christmas Album featuring an eclectic assortment of classics with special arrangements of some much loved favourites» More

Nativity

Psalmody, The Parley of Instruments, Peter Holman (conductor)

CDA67443

‘Rasping, rousing and riveting … the freshness and immediacy of the music and musicians are irresistible’ (International Record Review)
‘It is beautifully played and superbly recorded. A CD to gladden the heart with none of the usual clichés’ (Classic FM Magazine)» More

Rutter: The John Rutter Christmas Album

The Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter (conductor)

CSCD510Download only

The definitive collection of John Rutter carols and arrangements, this album forms a programme which narrates, reflects upon, and celebrates the Christmas story.» More

The Carols Album

Huddersfield Choral Society, Joseph Cullen (conductor), Darius Battiwalla (organ)

Studio Master: SIGCD108Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

Following their highly successful releases on Signum (the Hymns Album and Handel’s Messiah conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras) the Huddersfield Choral Society is back in force with a magnificent collection of Christmas carols.» More