Born Vincent Anthony Dellaglio in San Francisco, the "city by the bay" would remain Guaraldi's base of operations throughout his life, with Guaraldi eventually becoming a significant proponent of west coast jazz. Guaraldi's first recorded work was as part of trio with Cal Tjader in 1953. By 1955, Guaraldi had formed his own trio; in contrast to his later, more well-known work, his earlier music was decidedly morose and classically-inspired, as well as lacking drum accompaniment. Moreover, his actual compositional output was vastly outnumbered by cover versions.
Inspired by the 1959 film Black Orpheus, the trio recorded an album featuring renditions of songs from its soundtrack, as well as original compositions inspired by the film; one such original song, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", became an award-winning best seller of its time, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent vocal versions (with lyrics by Carel Werber) also charted. "Cast Your Fate..." also ensured Guaraldi's hiring as composer for a number of planned animated adaptations of the world-famous Peanuts comic strip.
Guaraldi's first composition for Peanuts was "Linus and Lucy", a theme for the characters of Lucy and Linus van Pelt, which he first played over the phone to producer Lee Mendelson. Featured in the famous "dancing scene" from A Charlie Brown Christmas, it has been mistakenly assumed by many to be the "Peanuts Theme", when in fact Guaraldi never composed such a theme; the specials tended to have their own individual themes. Regardless, it would become Guaraldi's greatest-known work, being among the most recognizable pieces of music in the world.
A Charlie Brown Christmas, the first proper animated outing for the Peanuts franchise, became an unexpected success upon its first airing, thanks in no small part to Guaraldi's timeless score, mixing holiday standards with original tunes with Guaraldi's laid-back, acoustic jazz style. One particular song from the album, "Christmas Time Is Here", has become a Christmas standard in its own right. It has remained a steady yearly seller for almost five decades, and has never been out of print.
As the '60s began to come to an end, Guaraldi became enamored with electronic sounds and synthesizer devices, in particular the Fender Rhodes brand electric piano, which would color his scores for Peanuts specials as well. Though the recorded output through the duration of his life would remain lamentably small, Guaraldi continued to play live on a regular basis, more than happy to mix his Peanuts music with jazz standards and contemporary pop music.
On February 6, 1976, while between sets at the night spot Butterfield's in Menlo Park, Vince Guaraldi died of causes variously attributed to either an aortic aneurysm or a heart attack. The last song he ever performed was a cover version of "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles. He had completed his underscore for the special It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown that very same day. Music from Peanuts was played over a public announcement system at his funeral.
Mostly owing to the jazz establishment changing its focus towards New York and more experimental forms of jazz, the melodically-minded Guaraldi never gained much recognition from jazz critics and peers of his time. Nevertheless, Guaraldi's music grows more and more appreciated with each passing year; historians have observed that scores of musicians and fans alike have attributed their love of jazz to watching, and listening to, Peanuts specials as children. Scores for subsequent Peanuts specials tend to feature at least one Guaraldi original; a testament to his importance to the specials.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Vince Guaraldi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on Earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Glory to the newborn king
The first verse of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is a call to all nations to join together in rejoicing over the birth of Christ. The opening line "Hark the herald angels sing" is an invitation to the audience to listen to the heavenly angels' message of joy and hope. The angels are singing "Glory to the newborn king," which affirms the belief of Christians that Jesus is the son of God and the savior of humanity.
The second line, "Peace on Earth and mercy mild," speaks to the hope and promise of Christ's birth that with the coming of the savior, there will be an end to violence and suffering. The verse goes on to celebrate the reconciliation of God and sinners: "God and sinners reconciled." Finally, the last two lines of the verse, "Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies," implore people of all nationalities to participate in this joyful occasion by proclaiming Christ's birth with the angels.
Overall, the message of the song is one of hope, joy, and reconciliation. The celebration of Christ's birth is an opportunity for all people to come together in unity and to recognize the transformative power of the love of God.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark! The herald angels sing
Listen! The messengers of good news are singing
Glory to the newborn king
Let us honor the newly born ruler
Peace on Earth and mercy mild
May there be peace on Earth, and may merciful actions be shown
God and sinners reconciled
May God and those who have sinned be brought back together
Joyful all ye nations rise
All nations, rise up in happiness
Join the triumph of the skies
Be a part of the victorious celebration in the heavens
With angelic host proclaim
Make an announcement with the heavenly beings in attendance
Christ is born in Bethlehem
The new king, Christ, has been born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Listen! The messengers of good news are singing
Glory to the newborn king
Let us honor the newly born ruler
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Integrity Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leigh3659
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
@anastasialaguardia3848
I heard that the Peanuts version of Hark the Herald Angels Sing (the oooh choir part) from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be played while Joshy reads the Christmas Mailtime poem on the Blue’s Clues & You Christmas & Hanukkah special premiering soon on Nickelodeon.
“Hark! I hear mailboxes sing,
A song that can mean just one thing.
O Merry! O Joy! O Holiday Cheer!”
- to be continued until the special premieres on Nickelodeon
I am literally going to scream and faint when the Peanuts version of Hark the Herald Angels Sing - oooh choir part starts playing and Joshy starts reading the Christmas Mailtime poem!!
#bluescluesandyou #joshuadelacruz #joshdelacruz #peanutsmusiconbluescluesandyou
#bluesclues
@maddy9362
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!"
@patrickstar7816
Where did you get that picture.
@tanishalee586
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Peace on earth
@twenteetoo
You too Maddy
@evelynwilson6735
Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pete, and Clarabelle Cow: Merry Christmas, Mickey Mouse!
@markbraley311
@@evelynwilson6735 Pluto barks, not talk in my personal opinion.
@usmc1917916
And were all young again. God Bless Merry Christmas.
@sagatuppercut2960
The children of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church did an excellent job of singing.🎵
@outlawjoseywales9782
Every year of my childhood was ended with this song on CBS A Charlie Brown Christmas special. I'm now 50 and still escape to pleasant memories hearing this toon.
@KitsonHeart
May this year have also seen you making new pleasant memories despite current events, and many more pleasant memories as we push onwards to the new years.