The Huron Carol (Twas in the Moon of Wintertime)

Christmas Hymn, Canada.

“The Huron Carol” (or “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”) is a Canadian Christmas hymn, written probably in 1642 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Canada.

This is also Canada’s oldest Christmas song.

Table of Contents

• Karaoke Video
• Lyrics
• Free karaoke MP3 download
  • Commercial License (Christmas karaoke)
• Sheet Music with lyrics
• Free Printable sheet music PDF with Lyrics
• Teaching ideas

Karaoke Video

Lyrics

‘Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the hymn,
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Free karaoke MP3 download

To download your free instrumental mp3 of this song, click or tap on the following button or link.

“The Huron Carol” (instrumental, 2:46 – 2/4 – 54 bpm)

Not sure which license is best for you?

Read our licensing page or contact us!

30 Favourite Christmas Carols for Karaoke

Hymns, beautiful melodies and a range of sounds from medieval to pop, all find their place on this album that is destined to charm parents and kids alike.

Sheet Music with lyrics

To save this free music sheet of “The Huron Carol” to your computer, right click (or tap and hold, on mobile devices) and choose “Save Image As…”.

Free Printable sheet music PDF with Lyrics

To download a ready-to-print PDF of this song for music activities with a music sheet, lyrics and a drawing for kids to paint, right click (or tap and hold) on the following link, then choose “Save link as…”.

The Huron Carol | Free PDF download – Singing Bell

Teaching ideas

If you’re teaching this song to children with a musical understanding beyond the basics, it’s worth highlighting the final cadence, marked by a major third. This is known as a Picardy cadence, or Picardy third.

While it’s uncertain whether the term originates from the French region of Picardy or from the French word “picard,” meaning “sharp” in this context, this cadence was commonly used in contrapuntal music during the Middle Ages.

Did you like this post? Rate it!

(2 vote(s), average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...

You may also like:

Angels we have heard on high (Les anges dans nos campagnes)

Carol of the Bells

Go tell it on the mountain