Essential Choral Christmas Music Selections

Nothing puts me in the spirit like beautiful, festive, inspiring choir music. Here is just a small list of my all-time choral Christmas favorites. If you have some must-hear songs that are not included in this list, feel free to comment with some titles!

"Messiah"

Lyrics from "Comfort Ye My People" to "Worthy is the Lamb"

"O Holy Night"

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

"O come, O come, Emmanuel"

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

"Carol of the Bells"

Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, throw cares away
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong that is their song,
With joyful ring, all caroling. One seems to hear songs of good cheer
From everywhere, filling the air
O how they pound, raising their sound
O'er hill and dell, telling their tale.

"Coventry Carol"

Lully, lulla,
thou little tiny child
By by, lully, lullay,
thou little tiny child
By by, lully lullay
Herod, the king
In his raging
Chargèd he hath this day
His men of might
In his own sight,
All young children to slay.

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

"Gesu Bambino"

When blossoms flower e'er 'mid the snows,
Upon a winter night,
Was born the child, the christmas rose,
The king of love and light.
The angels sang, the shepherds sang,
The grateful earth rejoiced;
And at his blessed birth the stars
Their exultation voiced.

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

"Joy to the World"

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

"The Little Drummer Boy"

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

"Pat-a-pan"

Willie, bring your little drum.
Robin, get your fife, and come,
And be merry while you play.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan
We will listen as you play
For the joy for Christmas day.

"Once in Royal David's City"

Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for His bed
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child