Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Deck the Halls #1: Do You Want to Sing the Christmas Song Deck the Halls?
Do you want to sing the Christmas song Deck the Halls? In this post, you’ll get: 1) easy-to-read shape note sheet music with a sing along song track, 2) the full Deck the Halls lyrics, and 3) a video of the Christmas song Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly. Read more to enjoy your deck and halls!
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Deck the Halls #2: How Does Shape Note Notation Work?
The words and melody for the Christmas song Deck the Halls comes from an old Welsh air.
- The version we’ll use today was published in 1917.
- However, little has changed between the contemporary version and the one in this post.
- If you’re familiar with shape note notation, you can skip right to the sheet music examples.
To learn about shape note singing:
- Shape Note Sight Singing Success
- Sight Singing Chromatic Shape Notes
- Singing with the Kodaly Rhythmic Syllables
Here’s the sheet music for Deck the Halls of Boughs of Holly.
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
Deck the Halls of Boughs of Holly Sing Along Song Track:
The sing along song track uses synthetic voices rather than actual voices. Research has shown that this will help with the ability to identify and produce absolute pitch information. For more information:
Keep reading to get the complete Deck the Halls lyrics.
Deck the Halls #3: Deck the Halls Lyrics
Here are the complete Deck the Halls lyrics. For your viewing pleasure, I’ve also included a video of Deck the Halls of Boughs of Holly.
Verse 1:
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 Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Verse 2:
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 Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Verse 3:
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.
Video: Deck the Halls of Boughs of Holly
Deck the Halls #4: Final Thoughts
Here’s a summary of Deck the Halls of Boughs of Holly:
Try singing the notation along with the sing along song track to help you learn how to read shape note notation.
- Work on the solfege syllables first.
- The sing along song track will help get the sound of the intervals in your ear.
- I specifically chose the tuning for the sing along song track to help you learn good melodic intonation.
- Then, sing the rhythm using the rhythm syllables.
- In addition, this post has the full Deck the Halls lyrics.
Enjoy singing on your deck and halls!
Glossary
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