"In dulci jubilo" is one of the oldest German hymns, found first in a Leipzig University manuscript, about 1400. Robert Pearsall did his own translation of the carol from a 1570 German service book written for the Protestant congregations of Zweibrücken and Neuburg. He says, “Even there it is called ‘a very ancient song for Christmas-eve’ so there can be no doubt that it is one of those very old Roman Catholic melodies that Luther, on account of their beauty, retained in the Protestant service.”

Pearsall’s radiant arrangement of "In dulci jubilo" in in a dance song format, scoring it in 3/2 meter, and is macaronic, with verses in Latin and English. When sung slowly and lyrically, it shows Pearsall’s ability to bring dynamics and emotion, depth and texture to the work, true hallmarks of the Romantic period. Pearsall contrasts sections between a solo quartet and the full chorus, giving a sense of drama to the story.

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