Piano Quartet - Level 1 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.548636
Composed by Mueller. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas. 7 pages. Jmsgu3 #3405937. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548636).
Arranged with a re-harmonized final verse.
Away in a Manger is a popular Christmas song published in the late 19th century and performed worldwide. In England, it is considered one of the two most popular carols of all time; a 1996 poll ranked it as a tie for second place. To begin with, many thought Martin Luther wrote it, but now the song is considered to be American. The most common musical arrangements are by William Kirkpatrick (1895) and James R. Murray (1887). The melody was first published as Luther's Cradle Hymn by James R. Murray. Then came a confusing series of explanations about how Martin Luther wrote the song. Murray even went so far as to suggest that Luther wrote it for his children. As a result, the song has become known as “Mueller.” Nobody knows who this “Mueller” is, but the name stuck.
Popularity
By the 1880’s the cradle song was being performed in church. By the 1990’s the song was becoming the most popular Christmas song ever. Nearly everyone sang it in school, in church, and at home.
Other musical settings
The first musical setting published with the lyrics appeared in the Little Children's Book for Schools and Families (1885). The title was Away in a Manger. This edition is the first one not attributing the song to Martin Luther.
Charles H. Gabriel was the first arranger to present the third verse. He also composed and published many different arrangements of the song. In one of his settings, he supplies a chorus for each verse with asleep sung in canon. Another prevalent preparation uses the lyrics to the melody Flow Gently, Sweet Afton. Yet another arrangement dating uses the lyrics to an old Normandy Carol.
