Joy to the World

One of the most popular English hymns, "Joy to the World" began not as a Christmas carol but as a lyrical paraphrase of Psalm 98 written in 1719 by the English Congregational minister, theologian, and hymn writer Isaac Watts (1674-1748). More than a century later, the second half of Watts' poem was adapted and set to music by the American music educator and hymn-tune composer Lowell Mason (1792-1872) in his Occasional Psalms and Hymn Tunes (1836). Mason based the music, in part, on excerpts from George Frideric Handel's (1685-1759) oratorio Messiah, with the descending major scale accompanying the opening words, "Joy to the world! The Lord is come" echoing Handel's chorus, "Lift up your heads." This accompaniment to unison voices proceeds as follows: Introduction: organ, brass, timpani Verse 1: organ Verse 2: brass, timpani Verse 3: organ with alternate harmonization Interlude: all Verse 4: organ, brass, timpani, with alternate harmonization Coda: all Includes full score, parts for organ, Bb tpt. 1, Bb tpt. 2, F horn, tbn, tuba, timpani, and reproducible bulletin insert for voices.