Joy To The World Digi Single by micheal Castaldo

Michéal Castaldo Releases a New Digi Single, “Joy to the World”

in English, on December 4, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2015

Michéal Castaldo will officially release his digital single of “Joy to the World” on Vital Records, December 4, 2015. This digital single is available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and other digital online music e-tail stores worldwide.

Castaldo, an award winning, Italian tenor, who sings in the style of Andrea Bocelli, is honoring the song in English because it’s so relevant in the lives and background of all of us in this country today. “Joy to the World” is worthy of the description of greatness. One is immediately put in the Christmas spirit when hearing his beautiful rendition of this song. When putting his voice to a particular melodic song, the results are nothing short of wondrous. Castaldo’s rich operatic voice, strong but soft, is perfect in pitch and tempo and always on key.

The words of “Joy to the World” were written by English hymn writer, Isaac Watts, based on the second half of Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts’ collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. Watts wrote the words as a hymn glorifying Christ’s triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating his first coming. The nations are called to celebrate because God’s faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world.

The music was adapted and arranged to Watts’ lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody that was then believed to have originated from Handel, not in the least because the theme of the refrain (And heaven and nature sing...) appears in the orchestra opening and accompaniment of the recitative “Comfort ye” from Handel’s Messiah, and the first four notes match the beginning of the choruses, “Lift up your heads and Glory to God” from the same oratorio. However, Handel did not compose the entire tune.

The name “Antioch” is generally used for the tune.

As of the late 20th century, “Joy to the World” was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. Micheal’s version was originally recorded in Italian and part of his #1 best-selling “Extravergine” CD.

Castaldo, who studied music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, has toured North America and Europe, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Rainbow Room, Shea Stadium, Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and Italy’s Teatro F. Cilea and Pescara Opera House. His passionate performances consistently thrill audiences with sweeping romanticism.

“Joy to the World” is available on Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/michealCastaldoDigiMusic and iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/michealCastaldoAllITunesMusic.

For more info about Michéal Castaldo or “Joy to the World” visit www.michealCastaldo.com.

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For media requests and a complimentary MP3, contact Charlotte Jayne at 631-256-6515 or cjayne@optonline.net.

Captions: Michéal Castaldo

(Photo credit: Mark Kopko)

“Joy to the World” CD cover