Description
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Matthew Koraus
Matthew Koraus’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” pairs a memorable new tune with the famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The text, written in 1863 in response to the American Civil War, is a powerful affirmation of God’s justice and peace in the midst of earthly conflicts. The tune, set in a moderate 3/4 meter, is “wild and sweet,” as stated in the text’s first verse: spanning a wide vocal range and unified by a lilting escape-tone motive that occurs at each cadence. The “despair” of the fourth verse is suitably augmented by a brooding and reedy organ reharmonization, cloaking that same joyful tune temporarily in darkness. The organ interlude leading into the final verse represents the pealing of the bells that inspires hope in God – starting small and distant but growing “more loud and deep,” dispelling the darkness and overwhelming the listener. The full-throated final verse reaffirms God’s presence and raises up “peace on earth” to heavenly heights. An accessible and moving addition to any choir’s Christmas repertoire!
