While rummaging through stacks of Christmas music, I came upon an old piece of handwrtiten dulcimer tablature for the Christmas carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High.” The arrangement dates to the 1990s and includes both the melody and a “response” harmony part. I mused that this is one of those songs that shouts, “you can’t play this on the dulcimer.” Well, you can play it, but does it sound good? The French carol does not have that rhythmic dulcimer “beat” and drone quality. The melodic chorus countains the word, “gloria”, which is a sustained phrase running over 16 rising and falling notes. Where’s the beat? However, when I played the tune, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the dulcimer duet arrangement is delightful. The harmony part is really a counter-melody and makes the song come alive. This “call and response” song doesn’t fit the dulcimer mold, but it is a wonderful Christmas story and pleasing duet to include in Christmas gigs.
“Angels We Have Heard on HIgh” is a traditional French carol of unknown origin. It dates to the 18th century and was first published in France in 1855 in the Nouveau Recueil de Cantiques hymn book. The hymn tune name is “Gloria”. The orginial tune is called “Les Anges dans nos campagnes” which means “angels in our countryside.” The English version was transcribed by James Chadwick (1813-1882), an Irish Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle. He did not copy the lyrics directly, rather the words are attributed to him and were published in Henri Frederick’s Crown of Jesus Music in 1862. Our contemporary version contains additional adaptations in lyrics and tune. Specifically, the 20th century American organist Edward Shippen Barnes arranged the chorus as we know it today.
The tune is based on the text of the Gospel of Luke 2:14. The song tells about the birth of Jesus and the setting is the hills outside of Bethleham. The shepherds encounter a multiude of angels singing the good news and praise of the newborn child. The chorus, sung in Latin by the angel choir, comes from the Scripture of Luke, and is “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” The second and third verses are question and answers. The narrator asks the shepherds why they are singing, and the shepherds say, “Come to Bethlehem and see.”
Dulcimer Tablature Arrangement
The music arranger for this dulcimer tablature left their name off of this piece of tablature dating to the 1990s. Inspite of my best attempts to research and figure it out, I can’t be certain of who made this wonderful arrangement. It is difficult to improve on something which is already great. So, I have retyped the tablature, hopefully with the arranger’s blessing.
In this version, the melody and harmony parts start out with the same notes. Then in the chorus, the harmony part provides a counter-melody or “response” to the melody part. The melody is fairly easy to play. The harmony sounds best when either flatpicked (or fingerpicked) rather than strummed and is a bit more challenging. However, that part makes the song come alive and shouldn’t be skipped.
There are so many wonderful traditional Christmas carols and tunes which fit perfectly when played on the dulcimer. The have a beat, rhythm and tell a story. This tune may be the exception to the rule. It goes in “phases” rather than “measures” and “beats”. However, one of the remarkable attributes of the dulcimer is how versatile this instrument can be. This “call and response” song, with a counter-melody shows off that quality of the dulcimer.
Enjoy this arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High.” A PDF file which you can download and share and play follows.
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain
References:
https://songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/angels-we-have-heard-on-high
https://familychristmasonline.com/music/trad_french_carols/angels_heard.htm
https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/angels-we-have-heard-on-high/
Dulcimer Jambalaya 