La música cristiana es de origen judío: la liturgia musical de la sinagoga, en particular el canto psalmódico de los judíos como unidad poética musical, fue un legado preciado transmitido del Israel antiguo al cristianismo primitivo, como forma de manifestar tanto a nivel personal como comunitario las creencias religiosas y la fe en Dios.
When christ was born of mary free,
In bethlehem in that fair city,
Angels sung e'er with mirth and glee,
[chorus:]
In excelsis gloria,
In excelsis gloria,
In excelsis gloria,
In excelsis gloria.
Herdmen beheld these angels bright-
To them appeared with great light,
And said, "god's son is born this night."
[chorus]
This king is come to save his kind,
In the scripture as we find;
Therefore this song we have in mind:
[chorus]
Then, dear lord, for thy great grace,
Grant us the bliss to see thy face,
Where we may sing to thy solace:
[chorus]