Go, Tell It on the Mountain / Jesus! Oh, What a Wonderful Child!

Go, Tell it on the Mountain has become a favorite Christmas spiritual in the United States. Originating on Southern plantations, the song was fashioned in the oral tradition and cannot be attributed to a single writer. However, we should be indebted to the resourcefulness of John Wesley Work, an African-American composer from Nashville, Tennessee. John Work and his family collected Go, Tell it on the Mountain and numerous other spirituals of the oral tradition to ensure the preservation of the art form.

Ames and McKay enhance this seasonal favorite with the inclusion of Jesus! Oh, What a Wonderful Child. Although the origin is unknown, gospel and pop legends have performed stirring renditions of this song for many decades. The combination of these two African-American spirituals results in an exuberant celebration of the Christ-child that is now accessible for many choral ensembles