This is the third of Three Christmas Pieces for harp by Nigel Springthorpe.

Although it is a transcription from a volume of songs for voice and piano by Cornelius written in 1856 and published in 1870 called Weihnachtslieder op 8 no 6 it makes a compelling harp solo.  Cornelius wrote the original words, but these do not appear in Nigel Springthorpe’s solo harp version.

This is the last of the set of Cornelius Christmas songs but it is probably surpassed in popularity by no 3, the Kings and no 6 deserves to be better known – as does this lovely harp version.

Nigel Springthorpe is a conductor, composer and musicologist with a career in music education.
A grade and diploma examiner for Trinity College London since 1997, and with teaching experience also at Tertiary level, Nigel was appointed Head of Junior Music Courses at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in December 2018.

Nigel is now a freelence examiner, adjudicator, composer and consultant.

The words below are by Peter Cornelius.

Das einst ein Kind auf Erden war,
Christkindlein kommt noch jedes Jahr.
Kommet vom hohen Sternenzelt,
Freut und beglücket alle Welt!
Mit Kindern feiert’s froh den Tag,
Wo Christkind in der Krippe lag;
Den Christbaum zündet’s überall,
Weckt Orgelklang und Glockenschall.
Christkindlein kommt zu arm und reich,
Die Guten sind ihm alle gleich.
Danket ihm denn und grüßt es fein,
Auch euch beglückte Christkindlein!

That once was a child on earth,
Christkindlein still comes every year.
Come from the high starry firmament,
Rejoice and make happy all the world!
With children it joyfully celebrates the day,
Where Christ Child lay in the manger;
The Christmas tree is lit everywhere,
the organ and bells wake and ringing.
Christkindlein comes to poor and rich,
The good are all like him.
Thank him then and greet him well,
Also you happy Christkindlein!