Battle of the Bands

A BOTB Christmas Edition: Joy To The World

December 1, 2023 /

Joy To The World was written by Issac Watts, an English minister and hymnwriter, in 1719.  The lyrics are a Christian interpretation of the birth of Christ from God’s World Psalms 98.  American composer, Lowell Mason, 1848 arrangement is what the carol is usually sung to and since the 20th century this song is the most published Christmas hymn in North America. The first recording of this faithful Christmas classic was 1911 by Trinity Choir. SecondHandSongs lists almost 1200 versions of this song including the original release.  

I’m not providing a music reference.  I doubt seriously the first release is the one you grew up listening to as we’ve come to base our like or dislike for a particular version.  As for me there were too many crooners from the 60s and 70s who included this song in their Christmas TV specials and albums for me to narrow it down.  In this battle round, I am strictly using instrumental arrangements to reflects the mood of the season in its beautiful and reverence, a showdown with the hope to move your heart.  

First contender, We Banjo 3
Second contender, Mormon Tabernacle Choir

That concludes another segment of Battle of the Bands.  Next week, we’re taking another week of vacation.  There’s a good chance I won’t be able to publish the results next Friday but I’ll get to it as quickly as possible.  Don’t forget to leave your vote for your favorite artist in comments.

Please check out the other battles underway today.  Participants are listed in my side bar beneath the BOTB banner.  Please join me next time for Monday’s Music Moves Me. This is CAAC signing off, have a bandtastic day!  X💋X💋, Cathy

Who gets your vote, We Banjo 3 or Mormon Tabernacle Choir? Leave your vote in comments! 😉

🎄Polls close at noon (ET) on Dec. 6th! 🎄



15 Comments

  • Stephen T. McCarthy

    December 3, 2023 at 1:31 pm

    CHRISTMAS CAThy! It’s that you!

    It’s me, it’s me, it’s Stephen T.
    (Not to be confused with “It’s me, it’s me, it’s Ernest T.”)

    Blessings of the season to you and yourn. All hail the King of kings and Lord of lords!! (He’s returning soon, so I really gotta get this house of mine cleaned up.)

    I liked the piano rendition well enough, but I couldn’t help thinking: Where’s muh JOY? Gimme muh JOY!

    I’m voting for We Three Kings. Oops! I meant WE BANJO 3.
    It was a more interesting approach to this classic Christmas song, and I especially liked it when the violins came in with some sweetening and then enthusiasm got kicked up a notch. (That version didn’t make me think of the movie ‘Deliverance’ at all. ;^)

    Me Brother, Judge Al, also wants to cast a vote for We Three– WE BANJO 3. I axed him why and he said that the piano version was nice but it just sounded a bit too simplistic, “Like something Schroeder would play in ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’.”

    So, there you have it: 2 votes for the 3.

    ~ D-FensDogG

    • Cathy Kennedy

      December 14, 2023 at 6:21 am

      Yikes, I can’t believe I missed logging your vote! I’m sorry about that. This changes everything in the final outcome that I reported in accurately. smack forehead Sorry ’bout that!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      December 14, 2023 at 6:23 am

      Your comment was stuck in my “spam” folder, so I missed seeing your vote until now. I’m so sorry about that and outcome I reported is wrong. sigh I hate when I do things like this.

  • Arlee Bird

    December 1, 2023 at 11:46 am

    That was the smallest version of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir I’ve ever heard. Nice piano rendition, but nothing out of the ordinary. The banjo take was unique–or more unique I guess.

    I vote for We Banjo 3.

    Lee

  • diedre Knight

    December 1, 2023 at 10:45 am

    Mary’s right. This is a lovely battle. I’m voting for We Banjo for the unique, yet still soothing sound that goes quite well with scent of jasmine. Happy trails!

  • Mary B

    December 1, 2023 at 8:32 am

    Happy Holidays Cathy!

    This was a lovely battle. I appreciated the more Reverent instrumentals.

    My vote is for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

    -Mary

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