Angels We Have Heard on High

Image by Old Shoe Woman via Flickr

Angels We Have Heard on High  is a
French Carol translated by James Chadwick.

 

 D     F#m      A        D
Angels we have heard on high,
 D   A   D       A         D
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
 Bm F#m  Bm       A     D
And the mountains in reply
 D A D         A       D
Echoing their joyous strains.

chorus:
 D B Em A D G A   D  A  D  G   D  A
Glo-----------ria in excelsis Deo,
 D B Em A D G A   D  A  D  G   D  A  D
Glo-----------ria in excelsis De----o.

 Angels: Key of E

Back in 2005 I found a lead sheet that I used that started in E and 

then modulates to F.

This one is arranged by Dan Galbraith. 

Play it with a driving acoustic feel.

 E             D2
Angels we have heard on high,
 E                        D2
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
 E                   D2
And the mountains in reply
 E                   A2
Echoing their joyous strains.

chorus:
 E F#m7 E/G# A2    E          E/F#m7(b5)
Glo-----------ria in excelsis Deo,
 E F#m7 E/G# A2    E E/F#m E E/F#m7(b5) A/E D E D2 E
Glo-----------ria in excelsis De----o.

 F    F/Gm7(b5) F/Dm7 F/Cm7(4)
Angels we have heard on high,
 Dm7    C#/F+   C/F    Bb  Gm7(b5)
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
 F    F/Gm7(b5)  F/Dm7 F/Cm7(4)
And the mountains in reply
 Dm7     C#/F+  C/F   Bb2 Gm7(b5)
Echoing their joyous strains.

chorus:
 F Gm7 A/F2 Bb2    F  Bb C/F C/Gm
Glo-----------ria in excelsis Deo,
 F Gm7 A/F2 Bb2 Eb D/Bb C/F Eb F Eb F Eb F
Glo-----------ria in excelsis De----o. 

You ask,

What is the history behind the Christmas carol 'Angels We Have Heard on High'?

"My carol songbook says that it was the first Christmas hymn of the church, also called the "Angel's Hymn". Telesphorus, Bishop of Rome, A.D. 129, ordained that "In the Holy Night of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour, all shall solemnly sing the 'Angel's Hymn.'"
http://wiki.answers.com 

Angels: Key of F

Angels We Have Heard on High
French carol.  Public domain.

F            C7         F
Angels we have heard on high,
                C7       F
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
                  C7   F
And the mountains in reply
                 C7   F
Echoing their joyous strains.

chorus:
 F D7 Gm C7 F Bb C7 F C7 F Bb F C
Glo-----------ria in excelsis Deo,
 F D7 Gm C7 F Bb C7 F C7 F Bb F C7
Glo-----------ria in excelsis De----o.

Peter Edvinsson 

Angels: Key of G

G              D7       G        
Angels we have heard on high      
     D7  G           D7   G       
Sweetly singing o'er the plains   
    D7   G          
And the mountains in reply,       
   D7 G          D7    G          
Echoing their joyous strains      
                                  
Chorus:

     E7  Am  D7   G  C  D7        
Glor----------------------ri--a   
G  D7 G  C  G  D7                 
In excelsis de o                  
    E7  Am  D7   G  C  D7         
Glor----------------------ri--a   
G  D7 G  C  G  D7 G               
In excelsis de----o               

 http://www.azchords.com

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 All the best,





"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King