Author

    The author, Lowell Mason, was a writer of many very famous tunes, including "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and the musical setting of "Joy to the World".  Outside of religious tune writing, he was largely responsible for helping establish musical education in the country's public schools. He was instrumental in establishing the organ and congregational singing in American church music. 

Translations/Challenges

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Tune

    The tune itself was written in 1824 by Lowell Mason but did not show up in a publication until 1825 in Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Church Music.  He titled it Hamburg based on the city in Germany. With five total notes in the tune, it is incredibly simple. 

Arrangements

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Author biography

Author's circumstances

Historical setting

Cultural setting