A book review of Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions For the Christmas Season by David & Barbara Leeman
Stars: ****
Moody Publishers (2020)
Christmas Devotional/Christmas Hymns
128 pages
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.
Summary: Music has always been central to celebrating the coming of Christ into the world. With Hosanna in Excelsis you can experience the hymns of the season like never before. This devotional couples the lyrics and score of a new hymn daily with a devotional message about the hymn’s biblical and spiritual truths. You’ll find hymns of advent like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” that anticipate the coming of Christ, hymns of Nativity like “O Little Town of Bethlehem” that celebrate His birth, and hymns of Epiphany like “Go Tell it on the Mountain” that marvel at His glory. Go deeper with classic Christmas favorites like “O Holy Night” and learn others that may be lesser-known like “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry.” Each devotional teaches you about the background of the hymn, while inviting you into worship and praise.
Celebrate the coming of Christ by immersing yourself in the legacy of music that truly honors the Christmas season. Hosanna in Excelsis is a great Christmas gift for the musicians in your life or for anyone who wants to go deeper celebrating the birth of our savior.
Hosanna in Excelsis
I love doing a Christmas Devotional and this year I had the pleasure of being sent a musical one. Hosanna in Excelsis gives the history on the words and the music of the most popular (and Christian) Christmas hymns.
Following that, is the sheet music for that song so you can sing (or play) along.
I really enjoyed reading the history behind my favourite religious hymns. I grew up in a household that was half Roman Catholic and half Jewish but neither was really religious. So I knew the most popular Christian Christmas songs and we had a nativity set. However I certainly didn’t know the history of the songs. I didn’t even fully understand what all the words mean.
The book doesn’t just have the ones that even secular people tend to sing. For example We Three King, Silent Night or Joy to the World.) The book also includes ones I’ve never heard of like On Jordan’s Bank The Baptist’s Cry, Of the Father’s Love Begotten, Fullness of Grace and Standing at the Portal.
Buy Hosanna in Excelsis at Amazon.com and help support the blog or buy it directly from Moody Publishers. Also at HosannaHymnals.com you can buy the book and/or a USB stick with all the music on it.
Find Hosanna in Excelsis at GoodReads.
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