Unitarian minister Edmund Sears (1810-1876) also was a contemporary of Holland, ministering in Massachusetts. Still through the cloven skies they come With peaceful wings unfurled Edmund Hamilton Sears (1810-1876) was a US Unitarian minister who nevertheless believed in the full humanity and divinity of Christ. All except, that is, for the last verse. He later said, “I was doing all right by myself, but the voice of God whispered, ‘You need to change a little.’” He eventually left the R&B and Jazz world. Frederic from Virginia The title of the hymn is "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear". It came upon the midnight clear. Edmund Hamilton Sears, wrote “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” in 1849. Leave a reply. Ron Clancy, author of the Christmas Classics series of Christmas carol books, has now created a number of "The Story Behind The Music" YouTube™ videos recounting the histories of numerous Christmas carols, including this carol. In 1930, his wife and newborn son died. Maybe this shouldn’t be surprising: Their popularity in America began about the time a Unitarian minister, the Rev. A Christmas carol is a traditional Christmas song with lyrics that often holds a religious message. In his youth, Sears developed his love for poetry. The 1930s were a difficult time for him. The life of the author will help us see why the message of the angels is … It came upon a midnight clear That glorious song of old From angels bending near the Earth To touch their harps of gold “Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, From heaven’s all-gracious King.” The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. See: It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” was written in 1849 during the gathering storms of the Civil War. It came upon a midnight clear…The story behind the song! The Stories Behind The Music Of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear History of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”: “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” was one of the first Christmas carols to be written and composed by Americans. Some accounts say that his parishioners first performed his carol when they gathered at his home to … The Christmas carol, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, is one of the very few that doesn’t actually mention the birth of the Savior. The word carol can be derived from a similar french word, carole (some say the Latin carula ), describing the phenomenon to dance in a circle. Brief history of Christmas carols. Often misnamed, often mis-sung. "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" catches the meaning of Luke 2 better than most of the much-loved but essentially escapist carols. While not as disheartening in spirit as Longfellow’s hymn, Sears pleas for peace as well. When we think of traditional Christmas carols such as "Away In a Manger" or "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," we generally assume these religious standards have been handed down through the ages. Kevin from Salt Lake City, Ut Bob Rivers recorded a spoof "I Came Upon A Road-kill Deer". The author, Edmund Sears, was born in Massachusetts and claimed descent from one of the original Pilgrim Fathers. Often misnamed, often mis-sung. Another opponent of slavery, he predicted before the Civil War that America would "reap the whirlwind" for its sin. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is Controversial A controversial minister among the Unitarians, the carol that Reverend Sears wrote It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, provoked controversy as well. Behind the song America would `` reap the whirlwind '' for its sin maybe this ’! Meaning of Luke 2 better than most of the Civil War that would! The last verse they come With peaceful wings unfurled It Came Upon the Midnight Clear was. 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