O Come, Little Children (Schulz) – Easy Guitar Sheet Music – TAB

This simplified arrangement of “O Come, Little Children” is perfect for the beginning guitar student. If you need help with the rhythms, check out the Mp3 audio file on MakingMusicFun.net.

About O Come, Little Children

“O Come, Little Children” is a beloved Christmas carol that originated as a German folk song titled “Ihr Kinderlein kommet”. The lyrics were written by German pastor Johann Abraham Peter Schulz in 1794.

The song’s original German lyrics invite children to come to the Christ child and praise him. At the same time, the lilting, joyful melody of the song was also composed by Schulz. It has a simple, singable quality that makes it well-suited as a children’s Christmas carol.

“O Come, Little Children” became a popular Christmas tradition in Germany and eventually spread to other parts of the world as the song was translated into various languages, including English. Today, the carol is still widely sung in churches, schools, and homes during the Christmas season. Its timeless, innocent appeal and celebration of the nativity story have made it a beloved part of Christmas musical repertoire.

The song’s simple, heartwarming lyrics and cheerful melody continue to delight children and families as they gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during the holiday season.

English Lyrics of O Come, Little Children

Come little children, oh come one and all
To the cradle in Bethlehem’s stall
And see what on this most holy night
Our Father in heaven does for us.

Oh see in the cradle, in the nighttime stall,
See here by the light’s bright-gleaming rays
In pure swaddling clothes, the heavenly child,
Much prettier and more loved than little angels.

There he lies, oh children, on hay and straw,
Mary and Joseph watch him happily,
The honest shepherds kneel praying before him,
The angels’ choir joyously hovers high above.

German Lyrics of Ihr Kinderlein, kommet

Ihr Kinderlein kommet, o kommet doch all!
Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall
Und seht was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht
Unser Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht.

O seht in der Krippe, im nächtlichen Stall
Seht heir bei des Lichtes hellglänzendem Strahl
In reinliche Windeln, das himmlische Kind,
Viel schöner und holder als Engelein sind.

Da liegt es, ihr Kinder, auf Heu und auf Stroh
Maria und Josef betrachten es froh
Die redlichen Hirten knien betend davor
Hoch oben schwebt jubelnd der Engelein Chor.

About the Composer of O Come, Little Children

Johann Abraham Peter Schulz was a German composer and music teacher who lived from 1747 to 1800. He was born in the town of Lüneburg in northern Germany. He was known as an influential figure in the development of the German Singspiel, which was a form of German opera that incorporated both singing and spoken dialogue.

In addition to his work in opera, Schulz composed a variety of other musical pieces, including symphonies, concertos, and sacred choral works. However, he is perhaps best remembered today for his composition of the beloved Christmas carol “Ihr Kinderlein kommet.” He wrote both the lyrics and the music for “Ihr Kinderlein kommet” in 1794. The simple, melodic tune and heartwarming lyrics about children coming to see the baby Jesus made the song an instant Christmas classic in Germany.

Over time, the carol was translated into many other languages, including the well-known English version “O Come, Little Children.” This helped spread Schulz’s composition around the world as part of the Christmas musical canon.

Despite his significant contributions to German music, Schulz did not achieve the same level of widespread fame as some of his contemporaries. However, his enduring Christmas carol has ensured that his name and creative legacy live on, especially during the holiday season.

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