Joy to the World was originally composed by Lowell Mason using music from Handel’s Messiah and has become the most published Christmas carol in North America. Given Mason’s use of Handel’s music, an introductory fanfare to the hymn was composed for the present arrangement using some of Handel’s “Glory to God” from Messiah. Each of the four verses are given slightly different orchestration, concluding with a festive final verse for all that subtly incorporates music from Vivaldi’s Gloria within the brass writing |
