Joy to the World Quiz | Christmas Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The song "Joy to the World" consists of four verses. The lyrics of the song were written by an English theologian, who was also known as the "Father of English Hymnody". Who was he?

Answer: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was born in Southampton, England. He wrote more than 750 hymns. He also wrote the lyrics for the hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past".

Isaac Newton was a renowned physicist who was best known for his three laws of motion. Isaac Asimov was a Russian-born American author who was most famous for his science fiction stories and Three Laws of Robotics. Isaac Isaacs was a celebrated Australian judge.

2. The lyrics for the song "Joy to the World" are based on a book in the Old Testament. This book, comprising 150 chapters, is also the longest book in the Bible. Which book is it?

Answer: Psalms

In the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, the Book of Psalms is listed as one of the five Wisdom books, the other four being Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

"O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." (KJV: Psalms - Chapter 98, Verses 1-9)

3. The melody of the song "Joy to the World" was partly credited to an American church music composer, who was also known for his tune for the nursery rhyme "Mary Had A Little Lamb". Who was he?

Answer: Lowell Mason

Throughout his life, Lowell Mason composed more than 1600 songs. He was known as the "Father of American Church Music". It was said that Mason's "Joy to the World"'s melody shared many similarities with George Frideric Handel's oratorio, "Messiah".

Lowell Thomas was an American writer whose name was synonymous with the movie "Lawrence of Arabia". Lowell George was the guitarist for the band Little Feat. Lowell Palmer was a Major League Baseball pitcher.

4. "Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and ___ sing, And heaven and ___ sing, And heaven, and heaven, and ___ sing." What word completes the lyrics for the first verse of the song "Joy to the World"?

Answer: Nature

In some versions of the song, the first line of the first stanza is changed from "the Lord is come" to "the Lord has come". "The Lord is come" is grammatically correct in Old English.

5. "Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the ___ joy, Repeat the ___ joy, Repeat, repeat the ___ joy." What is the missing word in the second verse of "Joy to the World"?

Answer: Sounding

Isaac Watts first published the text for the lyrics of the song "Joy to the World" in 1719 in "The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship". The book also included many other hymns inspired from the Book of Psalms.

6. "No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the ___ is found, Far as the ___ is found, Far as, far as, the ___ is found." What word goes into the blank in the third verse of the song "Joy to the World"?

Answer: Curse

According to www.hymnary.org, Isaac Watts originally wrote the lyrics to celebrate Jesus Christ's anticipated return from heaven to earth. Nowadays, the song "Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas carol sung to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

7. "He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove; The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His ___, And wonders of His ___, And wonders, wonders, of His ___." What word is missing from the lyrics of the fourth verse of "Joy to the World"?

Answer: Love

"Psalter Hymnal Handbook", written by Emily Brink, gave the following interpretation about the lyrics of the song "Joy to the World".

"In stanzas 1 and 2, Watts writes of heaven and earth rejoicing at the coming of the king. Stanza 3 speaks of Christ's blessings extending victoriously over the realm of sin. Stanza 4 celebrates Christ's rule over the nations."

8. Which American diva, known for her five-octave vocal range, recorded "Joy to the World" for her Christmas album entitled "Merry Christmas" in 1994?

Answer: Mariah Carey

The album "Merry Christmas" included a total of eleven songs. The popular song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", co-written by Carey herself and Afanasieff, was also included in the album. In the track listing of the album, George Frideric Handel, Lowell Mason and Isaac Watts were credited as the writers for the song "Joy to the World".

9. Which African-American singer and actress, known for her lead single, "I Will Always Love You", recorded "Joy to the World" for the movie "The Preacher's Wife", released in 1996?

Answer: Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston starred as Julia Biggs in "The Preacher's Wife" (1996). Denzel Washington played Dudley in the movie. The song "Joy to the World", sung by Houston, was included in "The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album". In 2003, Houston released her first Christmas album entitled "One Wish: The Holiday Album". "Joy to the World" was one of eleven songs included in the album.

10. The first runner-up of the second season of "American Idol", covered "Joy to the World" in his Christmas album entitled "Merry Christmas with Love", released in 2004. Who was the artist being described here?

Answer: Clay Aiken

"Merry Christmas with Love" included a total of 12 songs. The album was a huge success and achieved platinum status in the US. The "Billboard" magazine listed the album as the best-selling Christian album in 2004 and 2005.

Source: Author Matthew_07

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Joy to the World Trivia Quiz

"Joy to the World" was honored by the Dictionary of North American Hymnology as the most published Christmas hymn in North American during the late 20th century. How much do you know about the origin and the lyrics of this famous Christmas carol? Enjoy!

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