Discendi, Amor Santo (“Come down, O love divine”)
Bianco da Siena; translated from Italian by Richard Frederick Littledale.
Tune: “Down Ampney” • 6 6 11 D
Page 709
Page 685
“Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” by Claudia Frances Hernaman
Tune: “St Flavian” • 86 86 (CM)
Page 677
“What Child Is This?”
Translation: William Chatterton Dix
Tune: “Greensleeves” • 87 87 R
Page 678
Stille Nacht (“Silent Night, Holy Night”)
This German text was composed by Fr. Josef Mohr, a Catholic priest who died in 1848. He should not be confused with a Jesuit priest, Fr. Josef Hermann Mohr (d. 1892), who published many German hymnals. The English translation (“Silent Night”) was composed by John Freeman Young.
Tune: “Stille Nacht” • 66 88 66
Page 689
“My Song Is Love Unknown” by Samuel Crossman
Tune: “Love Unknown” • 66 66 44 44
Page 664
“Joy To The World” by Isaac Watts
Tune: “Antioch” • 86 86 (CM)
Page 669
“God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen”
The meaning of “God rest you merry” is “God keep you merry.” Note the archaic use of the word rest (“keep”)—indeed, this carol probably dates from the 16th century.
Tune: “God Rest You Merry” • 86 86 86 R
Page 658
“Lo! he comes with clouds descending” by John Cennick
Tune: “Helmsley” • 87 87 47
