I heard the bells on Christmas Day, Op. 111, No. 2

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the late 1980's studied organ with Jens E. Christensen and Gunnar Svensson. Studies of music theory at University of Copenhagen. From 1993 to 2008 organist at Kong Haakons Kirke (the Norwegian church) in Copenhagen. Longtime collaboration with Norwegian pianist, Tom Ernst. From 2024 collaboration with American composer and organist, Carson Cooman. Large number of compositions in a relatively conservative style often combining baroque polyphony with more contemporary elements of harmony and form.

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day" is dated September 25, 2025. It is the second piece in the collection: "7 Preludes and Mediatations on Christmas Carols, Op. 111".

I've done a number of these works and will be uploading them over the Christmas period. They are all cleverly written, but their appeal varies from piece to piece.

This one is VERY cleverly written! Rather than have booming steeple bells, this time, the bells sound like a delightful music box!

The tune, "Waltham" is by the English organist, John Baptiste Calkin (1827-1905). It is generally associated with the text, "Fling out the banner."

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song tells of the narrator hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War, but despairing that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men". After much anguish and despondency the carol concludes with the bells ringing out with resolution that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep" and that there will ultimately be "peace on earth, good will to men".

The text by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) is given in the First Comment.

The score is attached below as well as a photo of the composer, Dan Ehlert Nielsen, as well as a photo of H. W. Longellow and one of J. B. Calkin.

Peace to All!