How great our joy! - Traditional German carol, Theodore Baker (trans.)

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 27 December 2004, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. WHILE WE SHEPHERD WATCH TONIGHT,
ANGEL INFORM-us US, (2h)"WOW" WE THRILLED.

Refrain: ||: GREAT OUR (2h)JOY. (second time sign and shift shoulder) :|| ||: alt.JOY (2nd time small and shift) :||
||WE PRAISE GOD HEAVEN FAR-AWAY. (2nd time small and shift) :||

2. ANGEL PREDICT TODAY BORN WHO?
OUR SAVIOR SWEET IN BETHLEHEM. Refrain

3. THERE-rt LIE"over time" BABY INSIDE MANGER.
THAT-rt INFANT SMALL PAY-OFF OUR DEBT. Refrain

4. THIS-rt GIFT FROM GOD WE CHERISH DEEP.
MEAN EVERY (2h)JOY OUR HEART WILL FULL. Refrain


Notes: (2h)"WOW" - (2h)[5] shake out hands, swiveling at elbows.

The signs between "||:" and ":||" are to be repeated.

(2h)JOY - Same sign as (2h)HAPPY but mouth "joy".

(second time sign and shift shoulder) - this song has echo passages where a portion of the refrain is repeated by the choir but sotto voce (in a subdued voice) and not with the full choir. To mirror this effect you can turn to one side the second time and use a small signing space.

alt.JOY - Like (2h)HAPPY but with alt. movement.

FAR-AWAY - [1], twists while moving away with tongue shuttling from side to side. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Far.

BETHLEHEM - "B" CITY. For an animated gif of this sign, see Valley Bible Church - ASL dictionary: Temptation.

THERE-rt - [B], PO up, FO > the thing to be honored.

MANGER - (2h)[5], FOs down interlace fingers and then separate while ascending in outward arcs.

INFANT - (2h)[C], POs > signer, FOs ><, hold up an infant vertically.

PAY-OFF - [open 8] runs middle finger up palm (> wrist), changes to a [B], PO down, and then moves back across palm.

DEBT - [1^] taps FT against palm of [B], PO up, FO away. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Debt.

THIS-rt - [B], PO up, FO > the thing to be honored.

Lyrics:

1. While by the sheep we watched at night,
Glad tidings brought an angel bright.

Refrain: How great our joy! (echo) Joy, joy, joy! (echo)
Praise we our God in heaven on high! (echo)

2. There shall be born, so he did say,
In Bethlehem a child today.

3. There shall the child lie in a stall,
This child who shall redeem us all.

4. This gift of God we'll cherish well,
That ever joy our hearts shall fill.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to The cyber hymnal: How great our joy!

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