This well-known carol is a version of "Les anges dans nos campagnes" (Angels in our fields), an eighteenth-century French noël with a Latin refrain, from Lorraine or Provence. Although the earliest printed source of this song is Abbé Louis Lambillotte's 1842 collection
, scholars date the melody to the eighteenth century. In fact, as
asserts, since no new newly composed eighteenth-century noël melody is known, Angels We Have Heard on High is probably older. The enchantingly simple melody conjures up an atmosphere of quiet devotion, which is affirmed by the gently expressive legato voices of the Latin refrain. The English text probably stems from James Chadwick's extremely loose translation of the French original. The popular English version, with a somewhat simplified and perhaps less subtle tune, first appeared in
(1860). ~ Zoran Minderovic, All Music Guide
| 15 Christmas Classics: A Yuletide Concert |
1998 |
| A Blessed Christmas: Traditional Christian Christmas |
2004 |
| A Christmas Album |
|
| A Christmas Angel |
2005 |
| A Christmas Collection |
2005 |
| A Christmas Delight |
|
| A Christmas Fantasy |
2001 |
| A Christmas Festival |
1999 |
| A Christmas Festival |
1999 |
| A Christmas Gift |
1999 |
| A Christmas Pastorial |
1997 |
| A Classic Christmas |
2000 |
| A Classical Christmas |
1993 |
| A Classical Guitar Christmas |
|
| A Festival of Carols in Brass |
1967 |
| A Festival of Christmas |
|
| A Holiday Journey |
2002 |
| A Joyful Noel: Traditional Christmas Music for Flute and Piano, Vol. 4 |
1994 |
| A Magical Christmas |
|
| A Norman Rockwell Christmas |
|
| A Royal Philharmonic Christmas |
1992 |
| A Very Special Christmas [Turn Up the Music] |
2006 |
| Acoustic Christmas Reflections |
1996 |
| All Time Christmas Favorites [3 CD Madacy] |
2005 |
| All Time Christmas Favorites [Disc #1] |
1998 |
| An Old Met Christmas |
1987 |
| André Rieu: Merry Christmas |
2000 |
| Angel Voices: Boys' Choirs Singing Christmas Songs, Vol. 2 |
|
| Angel's Noel |
1991 |
| Angels We Have Heard on High |
2006 |
| Beautiful Star: A Celebration of Christmas |
1998 |
| Best of Christmas: 48 Beautiful Christmas Faves |
2002 |
| Best-Loved Christmas Carols |
2000 |
| Big Band Christmas [Pamplin] |
2001 |
| Cantorum Christmas |
2002 |
| Carols for Brass |
|
| Carols for Christmas |
1996 |
| Carols for Christmas, Vols. 1-2 |
1984 |
| Carols from St. Chad's |
1999 |
| Catholic Christmas Classics |
2003 |
| Ceremony and Carols |
1997 |
| Chamber Orchestra Christmas |
2008 |
| Children Sing for Children: 25 Christmas Songs |
2002 |
| Christmas |
1996 |
| Christmas Angels in the Orchestra [EP] |
1999 |
| Christmas Around the World |
2003 |
| Christmas Around the World [Compendia] |
2002 |
| Christmas Around the World: Favorite Carols from Many Nations |
|
| Christmas Bells |
2001 |
| Christmas Break |
2007 |
| Christmas Carols |
2006 |
| Christmas Carols: Pop Up Edition |
2005 |
| Christmas Celebration [Music Masters] |
1993 |
| Christmas Cello |
2008 |
| Christmas Choirs & Choruses |
2004 |
| Christmas Choirs and Choruses |
2004 |
| Christmas Classical Guitar |
|
| Christmas Classics |
1994 |
| Christmas Classics |
2002 |
| Christmas Classics [Box Set] |
|
| Christmas Echoes, Vol. 1 |
2005 |
| Christmas Eve |
2006 |
| Christmas Eve |
2000 |
| Christmas Goes Baroque, Vol. 2 |
1994 |
| Christmas Greatest Hits [Sony] |
1995 |
| Christmas Guitar |
2000 |
| Christmas Hymns |
|
| Christmas Joy [Madacy 2 Disc 2002] |
1996 |
| Christmas Magic [Madacy] |
2002 |
| Christmas Magic [Madacy] |
2002 |
| Christmas Melodies |
2004 |
| Christmas Melodies |
2004 |
| Christmas Memories |
|
| Christmas Memories |
2001 |
| Christmas Memories |
1999 |
| Christmas Memories Gift Tin |
2008 |
| Christmas Memories, Vol. 2 |
|
| Christmas Moments |
2008 |
| Christmas Presence |
2002 |
| Christmas Songs |
1987 |
| Christmas Songs |
2000 |
| Christmas Songs from Many Lands |
2006 |
| Christmas Star |
1997 |
| Christmas Stars |
|
| Christmas Time is Here |
2005 |
| Christmas Treasures |
|
| Christmas Treasures, Vol. 5 |
1997 |
| Christmas Vespers |
2008 |
| Christmas Voices |
2008 |
| Christmas Wishes |
2003 |
| Christmas With Leontyne Price |
1990 |
| Christmas With Marilyn Horne |
1997 |
| Christmas With the Master Chorale of Washington |
1999 |
| Christmas With the Robert Shaw Chorale |
|
| Christmas With the Von Trapp Children |
2003 |
| Christmas from the Vatican |
2006 |
| Christmas in New England |
2001 |
| Christmas in New England [Green Hill] |
2005 |
| Christmas in St. Charles |
2004 |
| Christmas in the Aire |
2005 |
| Christmas on Fifth Avenue [Gothic] |
1999 |
| Christmas with Chicago Chamber Brass |
|
| Christmas with Handbells |
2002 |
| Christmas with Luciano Pavarotti |
1999 |
| Christmas with Solid Brass |
1988 |
| Christmas with the Giannini Brass |
1997 |
| Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir [CD + DVD] |
2006 |
| Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir [Laserlight] |
1993 |
| Christmas with the Pops |
1990 |
| Christmas with the Westminister Choir |
1995 |
| Christmas' Greatest Voices |
1995 |
| Christmas' Greatest Voices |
|
| Christmastide |
1990 |
| Classic Christmas for Your Family |
2000 |
| Classical Christmas |
2000 |
| Classical Christmas |
2006 |
| Classical Christmas |
2009 |
| Classical Christmas [Laserlight Box Set 1999] |
1999 |
| Classical Christmas [Laserlight Box Set 1999] |
1999 |
| Classical Christmas [Laserlight Box Set 2001] |
2001 |
| Classical Christmas [Laserlight Box Set 2001] |
2001 |
| Classical Christmas [Unison][1997] |
1997 |
| Classics For Christmas |
2004 |
| Coca-Cola: Choral Christmas |
2007 |
| Comfort and Joy |
2002 |
| Coming Home |
2002 |
| Contemporary Piano & Cello Christmas Classics |
2001 |
| Currier & Ives: Christmas Memories |
1999 |
| Currier & Ives: Spirit of the Season |
1999 |
| Currier & Ives: Spirit of the Season |
1999 |
| Currier & Ives: Spirit of the Season (Box Set) |
2000 |
| December Night |
2005 |
| Dickens Christmas |
1997 |
| Dream Season: The Christmas Harp |
1997 |
| Emily Mitchell: A Celtic Christmas |
|
| Enchanted Christmas |
1993 |
| Flute & Harp for Christmas |
1997 |
| Gloria |
|
| Gruber: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht; Traditional: Angels We Have Heard on High |
|
| Hallelujah [Reader's Digest] |
1999 |
| Handel: Messiah [Collectible Tin Box] [Includes Postcards] |
2007 |
| Hark How the Bells |
1997 |
| Hark, How the Bells |
|
| Have Yourself a Traditional Little Christmas |
2007 |
| Healing Holiday Classics |
2009 |
| Holiday Favorites [Madacy] |
2002 |
| Holiday Favorites [Madacy] |
2002 |
| Holiday Joy |
2002 |
| Holiday Light |
2004 |
| Holiday Sounds |
1997 |
| Home for the Holidays [Madacy #1] |
2004 |
| Home for the Holidays [Maranatha] |
2003 |
| Hymn & Chant & High Thanksgiving |
1999 |
| In the Mood for Christmas |
|
| It's a Snowman Christmas |
2003 |
| Jingle Sax |
|
| Journey Home |
2003 |
| Joy Of Christmas |
2001 |
| Joy To The World |
2008 |
| Joy of Christmas [Reader's Digest] |
1999 |
| Joy to the World |
2004 |
| Joy to the World |
2002 |
| Joy to the World |
1989 |
| Joy to the World |
1987 |
| Joy to the World [Delta] |
1987 |
| Joy to the World [Direct Source] |
2002 |
| Joy to the World [St. Clair] |
2001 |
| Joy to the World: Music of Christmas |
1988 |
| Joy to the World: Thomas Kinkade |
2004 |
| Joyous Day |
2008 |
| KDFC: A Classical Christmas 2 |
2004 |
| Karita's Christmas |
2002 |
| Knabenchöre Singen Z. Weih. Zeit |
2000 |
| Life of Christ [Daywind] |
2007 |
| Magic of Christmas |
2001 |
| Magnificent Bells, Organs & Chimes |
2003 |
| Mandolin Christmas |
1998 |
| Many Moods of Christmas |
2004 |
| Merry Christmas [Naxos] |
1994 |
| Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Vienna Boy's Choir |
1999 |
| Mountain Snow & Mistletoe |
1991 |
| Music For All Seasons |
|
| My Christmas |
2009 |
| My Christmas |
2009 |
| My Christmas [Deluxe Edition] |
2009 |
| Noel |
2002 |
| Norman Rockwell: A Merry Little Christmas |
2006 |
| Noël: 25 Hymns of Christmas |
2005 |
| O Christmas Tree/1st Noel/Amazing Grace |
1993 |
| O Holy Night |
2005 |
| O Holy Night: Beautiful Classics for Christmas |
2006 |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem featuring Little Drummer Boy |
1978 |
| On This Day Earth Shall Ring! |
1995 |
| One Voice |
2007 |
| One Voice |
2005 |
| Our Favorite Things [SACD] |
2001 |
| Our Favorite Things: Christmas in Vienna |
2001 |
| Our Favorite Things: Christmas in Vienna [DVD Video] |
2001 |
| Our First Nowell |
1991 |
| Reader's Digest: A Glorious Christmas |
1992 |
| Rejoice! A String Quartet Christmas |
1995 |
| Rockwell: Christmas Memories |
2007 |
| Royal Christmas |
|
| Sacred Choirs |
2006 |
| Santa Claus Is Coming To Town [Premiere] |
1998 |
| Season of Love |
2008 |
| Silent Night |
1997 |
| Simply Christmas Gift Tin |
2008 |
| Simply Christmas [Sony 2005] |
|
| Simply Christmas, Vol. 2 |
|
| Sing We Noel: Choral Music From Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral, Denver |
1994 |
| Sing We Now of Christmas |
1989 |
| Song: The Heart of Christmas |
1985 |
| Songs of Angels: Christmas Hymn |
1994 |
| Songs of Good Cheer |
2002 |
| Sounds of Christmas: Christmas Classics |
2005 |
| Spirit of the Season |
2008 |
| Sunday Evening Sleigh Ride |
2007 |
| Sweet Night |
|
| Sweet Was the Song |
|
| The Amazing Grace of the New York Treble Singers |
2001 |
| The Best Of Christmas [Madacy 5] |
2004 |
| The Best of Christmas |
2006 |
| The Best of Christmas |
1995 |
| The Best of Christmas [Madacy 6] |
2005 |
| The Canadian Brass Noël |
|
| The Children's Gift: Classic Holiday Songs |
2003 |
| The Christmas Spirit |
1992 |
| The Christmastide |
2004 |
| The Classical Child's Christmas |
1997 |
| The Stan Kenton Christmas Carols |
2006 |
| The Sugo Holiday Collection, Vol. 1 |
1994 |
| The Traditions of Christmas |
|
| The Ultimate Christmas Album |
2008 |
| The Voices of Children at Christmas |
2004 |
| The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas |
1996 |
| The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas |
1996 |
| Tidings of Joy |
|
| Totally Christmas, Vol. 1 |
2004 |
| Traditional Christmas Favorites |
2001 |
| Traditions: The Time Life Treasury of Christmas |
2009 |
| Treasury of Christmas [Box Set] [Collector's Tin] |
2006 |
| Turned on Christmas |
|
| Ultimate Classical Christmas Album of All Time |
2002 |
| Unspeakable Joy: The Gift of Christmas |
2003 |
| Victorian Christmas |
2000 |
| Vienna Boys Choir: Carols, Johann Strauss & Pergolesi Stabat Mater |
|
| Voices of Christmas |
|
| Voices of Christmas |
1997 |
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
1970 |
| Welcome to Our World |
2000 |
| When God Is A Child |
2008 |
| Yuletide Classics |
1995 |
| Zamfir: A Christmas Portrait |
|
