This piece is so ancient it may qualify as our oldest living tune. There is a story that Pope Telesphorus, who historians place in the years 125-136, ordained that: "On the birthday of the Lord, Masses should be said at night...and the angelic hymn 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo' should be said before the sacrifice." Others claim that the song could not have been sung until the end of the third century at the earliest, which still places it in the running for Goldenest Oldie.
One unique aspect of "Angels We have Heard On High" is the contrapuntal counter-melody you may hear in the refrain. Every editor of Christmas songbooks seems to include his own version. What's yours?
