71. Christians, awake! salute the happy morn
John Byrom, 1692-1763
From a longer poem of 48 lines, written about 1749, by Dr. John Byrom for his daughter Dolly who, when asked what she would like to have for a Christmas present, replied, “Please write me a poem.” On Christmas morning she found on her plate at the breakfast table a sheet of paper on which was written this poem, entitled, “Christmas Day. For Dolly.” It is based on Luke 2.
John Byrom was born in Manchester, England, graduated from Cambridge, studied medicine but gave up its practice in order to teach a system of shorthand he himself had invented, and which became the chief system of shorthand in his time. He was a friend of Charles and John Wesley and taught them shorthand, which Charles especially put to good use in dashing down hymns as they flashed into his mind. Byrom was a man of learning and piety and also was given to wit and humor. He coined the phrase “tweedledum and tweedledee” when the friends of Handel and Buononcini were debating the relative merits of the two composers:
Some say, compared to Buononcini
That Mynheer Handel is a ninny.
Others aver that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a candle.
Strange all this difference should be
Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee.
MUSIC. YORKSHIRE was composed by a musician and organist, John Wainwright, of whom little is known. He is remembered principally by this tune. Musically and emotionally, the tune is completely satisfactory and well deserves its great popularity. It has been a favorite among English speaking people for nearly a century.