An ensemble for piano, organ and church choir arranged
for the Sierra Vista United Methodist Church (SVUMC)
from the United Methodist Church Hymnal #246. "Joy to
the World" was adapted and arranged to the English hymn
writer Isaac Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from
an older melody which was then believed to have
originated from Handel, not least because the theme of
the refrain (And heaven and nature sing...) appears in
the orchestra opening and accompaniment of the
recitative Comfort ye...(+)
An ensemble for piano, organ and church choir arranged
for the Sierra Vista United Methodist Church (SVUMC)
from the United Methodist Church Hymnal #246. "Joy to
the World" was adapted and arranged to the English hymn
writer Isaac Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from
an older melody which was then believed to have
originated from Handel, not least because the theme of
the refrain (And heaven and nature sing...) appears in
the orchestra opening and accompaniment of the
recitative Comfort ye from Handel's Messiah, and the
first four notes match the beginning of the choruses
Lift up your heads and Glory to God from the same
oratorio. However, Handel did not compose the entire
tune. The name "Antioch" is generally used for the
tune.
SHEET MUSIC