I heard the bells on Christmas Day
I Their old familiar carols play, I
^ 1 ^ And wild and sweet ^ '
The words repeat
y Of peace on earth, good-will to men. Cl
'w —Longfellow w'
Carols are one of the oldest types of musical com
positions, the best of which are perhaps mostly de
rived from mediaeval Latin Christmas hymns. No other
songs that are reserved for festive occasions are as
universally loved as the carols of Christmas time. The
joyful and inspiring music instills within the hearts
of young and old the spirit of Christmas and love for
their fellowmen.
Among the 18th century religious carols, perhaps
the most famous is "Hark, How All The Welkin
Rings,” better known in the variant, "Hark, The Herald
Angels Sing.” Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy is credited
with the composition of this tuneful carol, the melody
of which is taken from the second chorus of a cantata
he wrote in 1840. The words were written by Charles
Wesley, brother of the famous theologian, John Wes
ley.
The children’s choir of the Brevard-Davidson River
Presbyterian Church, under the direction of Mrs. James
Winget, is shown singing Christmas carols. Front row,
left to right: Betsy Ferrell, Martha Kimzey, Claire
Matheson, Gayle Lance and Diane Galloway. Center,
left to right: Jimmy Winget, Robert Neumann, Wil
liam Patton, Johnny New, Bill Kimzey and Happy
Straus. Back row, left to right: Barbara Schmidt, Elea
nor Ferrell, Martha Kaye Smith, Ann Brittain, John
Matheson and Jimmy Garrett. The following members
were absent when the photograph was taken: Laddie
Hart, Walter Hart, Virginia Cook, Stewart Cook and
Thea Schulze. All members of the choir except five
are children of Ecusta Employees.