Tune of the Day: O du fröhliche
“O du fröhliche” (usually translated to English as “O, how joyful”) is a popular German Christmas carol. Its original text was authored by Johannes Daniel Falk (1768–1826), a philosopher and poet who, after losing four of his seven children to typhoid fever, founded a rescue house for abandoned children in the German city of Weimar. In 1816, he dedicated this song to the children of the orphanage. The melody was taken from the anonymous Catholic hymn “O Sanctissima” (“O most holy”, also known as “Sicilian Mariners Hymn”), which he found in J.G. Herder's book Stimmen der Völker in Liedern (Voices of the Peoples in Songs) after hearing it sung by Pietro Granucci, an Italian foundling under his care. In Falk's original text, the song was titled “Allerdreifeiertagslied” (Song for three holidays), highlighting the three major festivals of Christianity: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.
Thanks to Gabriela for suggesting this tune!