"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:13-14
This Christmas carol written by Charles Wesley first appeared in 1739. The arrangement was slow and solemn, not the joyful tune of today. Today's version is the result of alterations by various hands, notably Felix Mendelssohn. In 1840, music from a cantata he composed was adapted to fit the lyrics known today.
