This document contains the instrumental, vocal, and guitar parts to the traditional Christmas Carol , Deck The Halls. Over the centuries Deck The Halls has had many minor changes made to its lyrics, but the tune itself remains basically unchanged.
The Origins of the Christmas Carol, Deck The Halls:
Believed to have originated in Wales in the mid to late 1500's, the song we now know today as Deck The Halls may have come from another traditional folk song named Nos Galan (click here to hear a MIDI file of the original Nos Galan melody ). The original words were quite different and had nothing to do with the Christmas season as we have come to accept today. A rough translation of the original Welsh lyrics results in this strange stanza:
To the troubled cold (i.e. chilling) are the bills
Which come during the holidays;
Listening to a sermon in one verse;
Spending more than you earn.
This is a far cry from the now traditional lyrics that we sing each year while sipping an egg nog. The song was brought to the United States and adapted to fit with the more seasonal lyrics of today. It's first official publication was in 1881 in a book of English songs titled "The Franklin Square Song Collection ," compiled by J.P. McCaskey.
Printed below are instrumental and vocal sheet music parts for all standard concert band instruments as well as guitar (in both notation and tablature formats). The full score can be transposed and printed in any key you desire. This music can be freely used for personal or educational uses, but is not to be published or posted online without the permission of the arranger.
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Deck The Halls
The lyrics (words) to Deck The Halls:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.