Ding Dong Merrily on High facts for kids

"Ding Dong Merrily on High" is a very popular Christmas carol. It is known for its joyful tune and special Latin words. This carol is sung all over the world during the Christmas season.

About 'Ding Dong Merrily on High'

This carol has a long and interesting history. The music is much older than the words. The words were added later by an English writer.

The Music's History

The tune for "Ding Dong Merrily on High" is quite old. It first appeared as a dance tune. This dance was called "Branle de l'Official". It was part of a famous dance book. The book was named Orchésographie. A French writer named Jehan Tabourot wrote this book. He published it in the 1500s. So, the music you hear today has been around for centuries!

The Words and Meaning

The words for this carol were written by George Ratcliffe Woodward. He was an English composer and writer. Woodward lived from 1848 to 1934. He first published the carol in 1924. It was in his book called The Cambridge Carol-Book.

Woodward loved the sound of church bells. This interest helped him write the "Ding Dong" part of the song. The carol also has a special Latin phrase. It is:

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
[Glory! Hosanna in the highest!]

When singers perform this song, they often hold the "o" sound in "Gloria". They stretch it out over many notes. This is called a melisma. It makes the song sound even more beautiful and grand.

Charles Wood helped arrange the music. He made it ready to be published with Woodward's words. Later, Sir David Willcocks also created a new arrangement. This helped the song become even more popular.