Glory to God facts for kids
Glory to God is a well-known Christmas carol often sung in churches in the United States and Canada. It is especially popular among churches that have roots in the Netherlands. This song is a translation of the Dutch carol "Ere Zij God," which means "Glory to God." It is one of the most loved carols sung in Protestant churches in the Netherlands.
The words of the song are inspired by a special moment in the Bible. They come from the words that angels sang when they announced the birth of Jesus Christ to shepherds. This story can be found in Luke 2:14. The song first appeared in a printed book in 1857. This book was a hymnal, which is a collection of hymns, called Het nachtegaaltje (The little nightingale). It was put together by a writer named Isaac Bikkers (1833-1903).
What Are the Lyrics About?
The lyrics of "Glory to God" share a message of peace and joy. They celebrate the birth of Jesus and the angels' message. Many other famous hymns also use the same Bible verse as their inspiration. These include carols like Angels We Have Heard on High and Angels from the Realms of Glory. Another well-known song is While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks. The oldest and most famous hymn based on this text is called the Greater Doxology, or Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
The lyrics of "Glory to God" are: Glory to God! Glory to God! In the highest, in the highest, in the highest! Peace be on Earth, peace be on Earth To the people whom God delights in.
Glory to God in the highest, glory to God in the highest! Peace be on Earth, peace be on Earth, peace be on Earth, peace be on Earth To the people, to the people whom God delights in, To the people whom God delights in, whom God delights in.
Glory to God! Glory to God! In the highest, in the highest, in the highest! Peace be on Earth, peace be on Earth To the people whom God delights in.
Amen. Amen.
Who Wrote the Music?
The music for "Glory to God" is believed to have been written by F.A. Schultz. Not much is known about F.A. Schultz. Some old writings mention a Franz Albert Schultz who wrote a song book. This was in 1731 while he was working at a college in Königsberg. However, no copies of this particular song book exist today.
The music itself has a grand and powerful style. It follows a common musical structure called A-B-A form. This means a main musical idea (A) is played, then a different idea (B), and then the first idea (A) returns. The song also has a long, flowing ending with a double "Amen."
