Joy to the World (3 of 5)
Series: Christmas Carols
Tony Thomas
Psalms 98:4-9
In a 2004 ‘‘Oprah Magazine’’ interview, Oprah asked Madonna how it felt to be known as the worlds ‘‘Material Girl.’’ Her reply was surprising: ‘‘I am so not the Material Girl anymore! For years I thought fame, fortune, and public approval would bring me happiness and satisfaction, but one day you wake up and realize they don’t - because they can’t.’’
That’s probably the first thing Madonna’s ever said that I agree with! Today we have more than ever before, yet real joy eludes most in our world. The Apostle Paul lived twenty-one centuries before us and his world was antiquated in comparison to ours. But, his attitude was entirely different. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:7, ‘‘I am greatly encouraged, and in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.’’
In 1719, Isaac Watts wrote the lyrics to ‘‘Joy to the World.’’ Watts was bored with the outdated music of his era and he wanted to hear something more upbeat (some things never change!). As a result, he was considered a rebel of sorts and his music was regarded as inappropriate.
For one thing his critics said that his lyrics were too repetitious! Just look at the refrain:
Repeat the sounding joy!
Repeat the sounding joy!
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy!
But that wasn’t the only complaint. Others said that the lyrics were irreverent and the music was too fast. Eventually, however, his song caught on and it has withstood the test of time.
The musical score to his song was written in by Lowell Mason. In an attempt to deescalate the tension of the critics, Mason borrowed the style after Handel’s Messiah. Everybody liked Handel, so grudgingly the Christian world accepted Watts’ carol.
Strangely enough, the carol was not written for Christmas. That’s hard to believe today because we hear it from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. Watts wrote the song to highlight Christ’s Second Advent. The only reference that is possibly re ...
Series: Christmas Carols
Tony Thomas
Psalms 98:4-9
In a 2004 ‘‘Oprah Magazine’’ interview, Oprah asked Madonna how it felt to be known as the worlds ‘‘Material Girl.’’ Her reply was surprising: ‘‘I am so not the Material Girl anymore! For years I thought fame, fortune, and public approval would bring me happiness and satisfaction, but one day you wake up and realize they don’t - because they can’t.’’
That’s probably the first thing Madonna’s ever said that I agree with! Today we have more than ever before, yet real joy eludes most in our world. The Apostle Paul lived twenty-one centuries before us and his world was antiquated in comparison to ours. But, his attitude was entirely different. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:7, ‘‘I am greatly encouraged, and in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.’’
In 1719, Isaac Watts wrote the lyrics to ‘‘Joy to the World.’’ Watts was bored with the outdated music of his era and he wanted to hear something more upbeat (some things never change!). As a result, he was considered a rebel of sorts and his music was regarded as inappropriate.
For one thing his critics said that his lyrics were too repetitious! Just look at the refrain:
Repeat the sounding joy!
Repeat the sounding joy!
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy!
But that wasn’t the only complaint. Others said that the lyrics were irreverent and the music was too fast. Eventually, however, his song caught on and it has withstood the test of time.
The musical score to his song was written in by Lowell Mason. In an attempt to deescalate the tension of the critics, Mason borrowed the style after Handel’s Messiah. Everybody liked Handel, so grudgingly the Christian world accepted Watts’ carol.
Strangely enough, the carol was not written for Christmas. That’s hard to believe today because we hear it from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. Watts wrote the song to highlight Christ’s Second Advent. The only reference that is possibly re ...
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