Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759): Joy to the World.
Joy to the World is one of the most popular Christmas carols in English-speaking countries. His lyrics, written by the English Isaac Watts (1719), is the adaptation of Psalm 98, while the melody is based on the Händel’s oratorio The Messiah, specifically in the incipit of Lift up your heads, scene 3 of the second part, and in Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, scene 1 of the first part. The most widespread arrangement today is that of the American composer Lowell Mason, who published it in 1828 as “arranged by Händel”. Currently there are doubts about this attribution, although the use of Händel’s musical material is very evident.
Transcription for recorder and piano by Massimo Pennesi.
Joy to the World
Karaoke.
