The lead sheet for “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is available for download as a PDF.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” pairs jubilant theology with later Romantic color. The tune most people know comes from Felix Mendelssohn’s Festgesang (1840), originally a secular choral work adapted for the carol by William H. Cummings.

Initially criticized for borrowing a concert melody, the song gradually gained acceptance and became a Christmas staple. Its bright leaps and high tessitura challenge congregations, while recordings by groups such as the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge highlight its triumphant choral sweep.

Lead Sheet

he sheet music below is a lead sheet containing the chords and melody of the piece.