The music was adapted and
arranged to Watts' lyrics by Lowell
Mason in 1839
from an older melody which was then believed to have originated fromHandel, not least because the theme of the refrain (And heaven and
nature sing...) appears in the orchestra opening and accompaniment of therecitative 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.[4] The name "Antioch" is generally
used for the tune.The words are by English hymn
writer Isaac
Watts, based on Psalm
98 in the
Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in
the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship.
Watts wrote the words of "Joy to the World" as a hymn glorifying Christ's
triumphant return at the
end of the age,[2] rather than a song celebrating His first
coming. Only the second half of Watts' lyrics are still used today.[3]
As of the late 20th century,
"Joy to the World" was the most-published Christmas hymn in North
America.[1]
Muppets
Dolly Parton
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