I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY - Marks
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Time signature: 4/4
Tempo: Moderate. |
Words: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1863)
Music: Johnny Marks (1956) |
There are two different tunes for this Christmas carol, the earliest one by John Baptiste Calkin in 1872, and the more recent one (given below) by Johnny Marks in 1956
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Notation & youTube keys need to be checked.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Notation & youTube keys need to be checked.
Accordion Notation
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Beats per bar = 4
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent |
Outside row (high) = Buttons 5 to 9* plus o1 (accidental)
Inside row (high) = Buttons 5 to 9* plus o6*(accidental) Inside row (low) = Buttons 2 to 5* plus o2* & o3* Outside row (low): Not available (two notes missing) |
Verses 1 & 2 (of 4)
.5 | ;7 "7* .6 .6* | .5* .7* .6*
.2 | ;4 "3* .3 .2* | .o3* .3* .2*
I heard the bells on Christ-mas day,
.5 | ;6 "6* .5* .5 | .(o6*/1) .6* .5
.2 | ;3 "2* .o3* .2 | .o2* .2* .2
Their old fa - mil - iar car - ols play. /
.5 | ;8* "7 .7* .5 | ;8 "8* .7
.2 | ;4* "4 .3* .2 | ;5 "4* .4
And wild and sweet the words re-peat /
.5* | .9* .8 .8* .7 | ;7 "7* .7*~
.o3* | .5* .5 .4* .4 | ;4 "3* .3*~
Of peace on earth good will to men. /
.5 | ;7 "7* .6 .6* | .5* .7* .6*
.2 | ;4 "3* .3 .2* | .o3* .3* .2*
And thought how, as the day had come,
.5 | ;6 "6* .5* .5 | .(o6*/1) .6* .5
.2 | ;3 "2* .o3* .2 | .o2* .2* .2
The bel-fries of all Chris - ten - dom /
.5 | ;8* "7 .7* "5 "5 | ;8 "8* .7
.2 | ;4* "4 .3* "2 "2 | ;5 "4* .4
Had rung so - long the un - bro - ken song /
.5* | .9* .8 .8* .7 | ;7* "6 .6~
.o3* | .5* .5 .4* .4 | ;3* "3 .3~
Of peace on earth good will to men. /
.5 | ;7 "7* .6 .6* | .5* .7* .6*
.2 | ;4 "3* .3 .2* | .o3* .3* .2*
I heard the bells on Christ-mas day,
.5 | ;6 "6* .5* .5 | .(o6*/1) .6* .5
.2 | ;3 "2* .o3* .2 | .o2* .2* .2
Their old fa - mil - iar car - ols play. /
.5 | ;8* "7 .7* .5 | ;8 "8* .7
.2 | ;4* "4 .3* .2 | ;5 "4* .4
And wild and sweet the words re-peat /
.5* | .9* .8 .8* .7 | ;7 "7* .7*~
.o3* | .5* .5 .4* .4 | ;4 "3* .3*~
Of peace on earth good will to men. /
.5 | ;7 "7* .6 .6* | .5* .7* .6*
.2 | ;4 "3* .3 .2* | .o3* .3* .2*
And thought how, as the day had come,
.5 | ;6 "6* .5* .5 | .(o6*/1) .6* .5
.2 | ;3 "2* .o3* .2 | .o2* .2* .2
The bel-fries of all Chris - ten - dom /
.5 | ;8* "7 .7* "5 "5 | ;8 "8* .7
.2 | ;4* "4 .3* "2 "2 | ;5 "4* .4
Had rung so - long the un - bro - ken song /
.5* | .9* .8 .8* .7 | ;7* "6 .6~
.o3* | .5* .5 .4* .4 | ;3* "3 .3~
Of peace on earth good will to men. /
Verses 3 and 4 follow the tunes for verses 1 and 2, respectively, slowing near end of verse 4 and holding the final note for a count of "two" (or more, if you prefer).
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Total of 12 videos in various keys: Bb= 1; C = 1; C,D = 1; D = 2; E = 1; F = 5; F# = 1
Total of 12 videos in various keys: Bb= 1; C = 1; C,D = 1; D = 2; E = 1; F = 5; F# = 1
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Key: C
Singer: Sarah McLachlan Posted by: sonicrick78 A beautiful rendition. However, Sarah does seem to make some small departures from the standard Marks tune as given above for the button accordion. |
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Key: F
Singer: Burl Ives Posted by: Megan Smith |
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Key: F
Singer: Frank Sinatra Posted by: christmastime4u |
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Key: Bb
Singer: Karen Carpenter Group: The Carpenters Posted by: christmastime4u |
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Key: E
Singer: Ed Ames Posted by: dvdmanchristmas2 |
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Key: D
Singer: Bing Crosby Posted by: MusicProf78 This song begins at time 0:25 |
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Key: F
Singer: Harry Belafonte Posted by: AllLegendsOfMusic |
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Key: C from time 0 to 1:21
D from 1:21 to END Singer: Kate Smith Posted by: Don Casey |
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Key: D
Singer: Suzy Bogguss Guitarist: Chet Atkins Posted by: suzybogguss Beautifully played and sung - absolutely beautiful. |
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Key: F# (=Gb)
Singer: Fred Waring Posted by: Santa Claus is Coming. Again. Xmas time |
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Key: F
Singer: Eddy Arnold Posted by: Lloyd T. |
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Key: F
Pianist: ? Arrangement: Dan Coates Posted by: Sound Of Falling Tears (S.O.F.T.) |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
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Lyrics:
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I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play And mild and sweet their words repeat Of peace on earth good will to men I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rung so long the unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men. And in despair I bowed my head There is no peace on earth I said For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men Then pealed the bells more loud and deep God is not dead, nor does he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on earth, good will to men |
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Background Links:
(wikipedia) |
Click HERE for additional info about this song.
Click HERE for biographical info on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Click HERE for information about musician & songwriter Johnny Marks. |