Description

A popular Christmas carol, the tune usually used today is from an 1848 edition by Lowell Mason for The National Psalmist (Boston, 1848). The name of this tune was given as “Antioch”, and was attributed as being “From Handel“.  Musically, the first four notes of “Joy to the World” are the same as the first four in the chorus “Lift up your heads” from Handel’s Messiah (premiered 1742), and, in the third line, the same as found in another Messiah piece: the arioso, “Comfort ye“. Consequently, and with Mason’s attribution to Handel, there has long been speculation over how much a part Handel’s Messiah had in “Joy to the World”. However, resemblances between Messiah and “Joy to the World”, have been dismissed as ‘chance resemblance’ by Handel scholars today. I have combined Handelian elements with the tune that most people know to create an arrangement that works well for guitar quartet retaining the bounce and vigour of the carol.