Christmas Caroling Handouts — Change Log

v2026
Summary: 

ADDED CAROLS (LYRICS + CHORDS)
	•	Hallelujah Chorus - If the choir is in practice, it seems like we can get away with this one at caroling. Guitar chords are in C to make it easier (for singers and guitarists both), or you can capo 2 for concert key.
	•	Infant Holy - I only know of two verses, but we should add more if we ever find them (or if someone wants to write them). Source: 
	⁃	https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/infant_holy_infant_lowly.htm
	•	Jesus Christ the Apple Tree - From the Elizabeth Poston setting that the choir sings, but pitched down a bit. 
	•	Noche de Paz - Spanish version of Silent Night, and listed with it, rather than alphabetically. 
	•	See Amid the Winter Snow - Selected verses from this page (with slight edits):
	⁃	https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/see_amid_the_winters_snow.htm
	•	Sing a Song of Bethlehem - Ninteenth century hymn set to a traditional melody. Works well as a perky Irish tune. Often done as a solo at our Christmas concerts. 

ADDED CHORDS
	•	It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Added a second set of chords, in case anyone wants to sing the 4/4 arrangement by Arthur Sullivan, popular in England. Based on the recording by Maddy Prior, historical reference here: 
	⁃	https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/it_came_upon_the_midnight_clear.htm

EDITS AND CORRECTIONS
	•	[General] - Cleaned up a lot of wrapped lines so the lyrics flow better visually.
	•	Away in a Manger - Standardized lyrics across all three versions of the chords (so that it matches the version choir sings). Improved chords on the French version.
	•	The Christ Child’s Asleep - Updated chords to match choir version, since people alway sing their parts even when it’s pitched in a lower key.
	•	Christ Has Come - Now has three repetitions + tag, as in choir arrangement.
	•	Christmas Lullaby - Fixed a few chords.
	•	Ding Dong Merrily on High - Added a missing chord and deleted an extraneous word.
	•	Do You Hear What I Hear - Fixed chord spacing on “bring Him silver and gold.”
	•	Hark, the Herald Angels Sing - Changed the order of lines in last verse to match the version our choir sings (the David Wilcox arrangement).
	•	In the Bleak Midwinter - Corrected last line: “Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.”
	•	In Dulci Jubilo - A few chord corrections.
	•	Joyful Joyful (Ode to Joy) - Homonym corrections (veil/vale and raining/reigning).
	•	Looking for a Friend - Changed chords to match the Ananda Songbook.
	•	O Holy Night - Tried to clarify the timing of the C chord on “O night when Christ was born” and similar lines. 
	•	O Little Town of Bethlehem - Replaced missing first Am chord in each verse.
	•	Once as I Remember - Added a couple missing Em chords in each verse. 
	•	Sing Out with Joy - Tweaked chords to match those in the Ananda Songbook.

v2018
Summary: Removed a number of the 2014 additions that didn’t seem to have caught on. Added a few new ones—some concert favorites and a couple suggestions from Rose. Various corrections and tweaks. Details follow:

ADDED CAROLS
	•	Christmas Lullaby - by John Rutter, from 2018 Christmas concert
	•	I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Rose’s recommendation, from The Victorian Singers
	•	In Dulci Jubilo - from previous Christmas concerts
	•	Once as I Remember - Rose’s recommendation, from The Victorian Singers
	•	The Seven Rejoices of Mary - Loreena McKennitt version, replacing other Mary blessing carols, since this is the one everyone prefers
	•	Sing We the Virgin Mary - (Appalachian?) from 2018 Christmas concert
	•	We Shall Walk through the Valley in Peace - from various concerts, not specifically Christmas-y, but specifically requested by Asha

ADDED CHORDS
	•	Away in a Manger now has three chord sets, for the American, English, and French versions. Lyrics are the same, so this didn’t change the lyrics-only handout.

REMOVED CAROLS
	•	The Blessings of Mary
	•	The Sans Day Carol
	•	The Seven Joys of Mary
	•	The Sussex Carol
	•	The Truth Sent from Above
	•	The Wessex Carol

EDITS AND CORRECTIONS
	•	Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Fixed chord spacing.
	•	In the Bleak Midwinter - Fixed an incorrect chord on “sufficed.”
	•	I Wonder as I Wander - Changed “ordn’ry” to “simple,” because there’s no way to make “ordinary” not sound like “ornery.” Also fixed some chord spacings.
	•	The Little Drummer Boy - Added the missing D chord at the beginning of each verse. 
	•	O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Added another verse (Key of David). 
	•	Once in Royal David’s City - Some lyrics rewritten to be more Self-realization-y and less dumb. 
	•	Thy Light Within Us Shining - Improved chords. 

v2014
Tandava took over editing, with the following changes. (This list was compiled well after the fact, and may be incomplete.)

ADDED CAROLS
	•	Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
	•	The Blessings of Mary
	•	Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella
	•	Gabriel’s Message
	•	Here We Come A-Caroling
	•	The Holly and the Ivy
	•	I Saw Three Ships
	•	I Wonder as I Wander
	•	In the Bleak Midwinter
	•	Joyful, Joyful (Ode to Joy)
	•	Lord of the Dance
	•	The Sans Day Carol
	•	The Seven Joys of Mary
	•	The Sussex Carol
	•	The Truth Sent from Above
	•	We Wish You a Merry Christmas
	•	The Wexford Carol

UPDATED CHORDS OR KEYS
	•	Jingle Bells
	•	O Come, O Come Emmanuel
	•	O Little Town of Bethlehem
	•	Once in Royal David’s City
	•	What Child Is This?

v2013
Karen made edits to previous version.

v2011
Dambara’s last edition that we inherited.