Advent Calendar – 21st December, 2021 – A Babe is born
Merry Christmas!
Danielle and Dave’s Advent Calendar, 2021
21st December, 2021
A Babe is born
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
Perhaps the most famous of Holst’s many carol settings throughout his life was In the Bleak Midwinter. Most of his other carols are far less well known including this carol which was first published in 1907 in Four Old English Carols.
It was the first in the set, all of which are scored for SATB with the accompaniment deemed to be for organ, but it fits perfectly onto the harp.
The words of this carol are from fifteenth century England, alleged to be from the reign of King Henry VI. It was fairly common practice to have a Latin refrain between the verses in English.
In this case, words such as Veni Creator Spiritus, are themselves the titles of other songs in Latin.
‘May’ in the first line, refers not to a month, but to a maiden or virgin.
1. A babe is born all of a may,
In the salvation of us,
To them we sing both night and day,
Veni, Creator Spiritus.
2. At Bethlehem that blessed place,
The child is bliss born He was,
Him to serve God give us grace,
O Lux Beata Trinitas.
3. There came three kings out of the East,
To worship the King that is so free,
With gold and myrrh and frankincense,
A solis ortus cardine.
4. The herdsmen heard an Angel cry,
A merry song then sung he,
Why are ye so sore aghast?
Jam ortus solis cardine.
5. The Angel came down with a cry,
A fair song then sung he,
In the worship of that child,
Gloria tibi, Domine.
Recorded on David Concert Harp ~ 2000
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/a_babe_is_born.htm