Two Carols, Two Messages: Glory vs Peace!
- larees24
- Dec 3, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 13, 2025
🎄 Welcome, to ‘Christmas around the Piano’…a nostalgic musical journey!🎄
Day 3: December 3, 2025:
Today, let’s compare two carols, both involving Angels!
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” vs “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” is a reflective Christmas carol written in 1849, by Edmund Hamilton Sears (1810–1876), a Harvard Divinity School graduate, Unitarian minister in Massachusetts, and an American pastor, during a time of social unrest and war fears, shortly after the Mexican-American War, and amid fears of revolution in Europe.
Sears was deeply troubled by the social and political turmoil of his time, which shaped the carol’s focus on peace, making its plea for peace, especially poignant.
It was written as a poem, first published in the Christian Register (Boston), later in Sears’ collection Songs for the Christian Year.
The carol is unusual because, unlike other carols, it does not mention the birth of Christ directly. Instead, it reflects on the angels’ proclamation of peace from Luke 2:14 (“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”).
The tune most often sung in the U.S. is paired with Carol (1850), composed by Richard Storrs Willis, a student of Felix Mendelssohn, while in the UK and Commonwealth countries, it’s usually paired with Noel by Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert & Sullivan) from an English melody.
Its enduring appeal lies in its timeless message of hope and reconciliation. This carol invites listeners to pause amid worldly strife, and embrace the promise of divine peace.
Quick Facts!
✨Sears was reportedly in poor health and depression when he wrote the carol, which may explain its reflective tone.
✨The carol’s plea for peace was seen as a social commentary hymn, addressing human conflict rather than just celebrating Christmas.
✨The UK tune Noel by Arthur Sullivan is considered more solemn, while the U.S. tune Carol is lighter and lyrical.
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is a triumphant and celebratory Christmas carol that proclaims the angels’ joyous announcement of Christ’s birth. It was written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, first published in Hymns and Sacred Poems, later adapted by George Whitefield, and set to music from Felix Mendelssohn’s Festgesang by William H. Cummings.
Charles Wesley originally wanted a slow, solemn tune, but in 1855, English musician William H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s Festgesang (1840) to fit the lyrics. This and other adaptations gave it the triumphant melody, that we know of today. He had titled it “Hymn for Christmas-Day” with the opening line “Hark how all the welkin (means Heavens) rings”.
In 1753, preacher George Whitefield altered the opening to “Hark! the herald angels sing”, making it more accessible.
It is one of the most famous Christmas carols, that emphasizes peace, reconciliation, and glory to the newborn King, celebrated by the angels’ announcement of Christ’s birth with triumphant joy.
Quick Facts!
✨Inspired by Luke 2:8–14, where angels proclaim “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.”
✨The word “welkin” (sky/heavens) was already becoming outdated in Wesley’s time, which is why Whitefield’s change resonated more.
✨Mendelssohn’s Festgesang was not written for Christmas—it was composed to celebrate Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press.
Whilst 'Hark the Herald' is a Proclamation of divine triumph (God’s action), 'It came upon a midnight Clear' is a Reflection on human need for peace (our response).
I do hope you have enjoyed reading about this carol, as much as I have enjoyed presenting this to you.
Thank you for joining me on this festive journey! Wishing you and your loved ones, a season filled with light, laughter, love, and of course, MUSIC! 🌟🎄
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Christmas cheer and good tidings to you!
Larissa
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