While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
While shepherds watched Their flocks ( As shepherds kept night watch over their flock ) is an English Christmas carol that describes the Annunciation to the shepherds (Luke 2.8 to 14 LUT ) / ( Lk 2.8 to 14 EU). It is the English poet laureate Nahum Tate (1652-1715) Irish descent attributed. It was developed by Davies Gilbert ( London, 1822) and William B. Sandys (London, 1833) published.
There are different versions, the way Winchester Old is sung in the UK, and a variation on a Handel aria arranged by Lowell Mason in the United States. In addition, there are different versions of the text.
A well-known choral version comes from David Willcocks.