Scripture verse: Psalm 98: 4-9
English hymn writer Isaac Watts, wrote Joy To The World. The song was intended to glorify Christ's triumphant return, rather than a song celebrating his birth. Lowell Mason adapted the song in 1839 from an older melody which may have originated from Handel. Only parts of the tune, called Antioch, is attributed to Handel. Joy to the World is one of the most-published Christmas hymns in North America.
John Rutter, the director of the Cambridge Singers, adapted the song in a pseudo-Handelian arrangement and recorded it twice with The Cambridge Singers, for their Christmas albums, Christmas Star (1983) and Christmas with the Cambridge Singers (1989).
