To Us Is Born A Little Child

For Christmas

Parvulus nobis nascitur.
Version 2 (from the Latin)
German, xiv century.
Compare Version 1 (from the German)

XV Cent. from Lossius, 1579, and from the Paderborn Gesangbüchlein, 1609. Words chiefly by Rev. W. J. Blew. Melody of the first tune is Uns ist Geborn ein Kindelein, by Joh. Seb. Bach. Melody of the second tune is Ach! bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, by Joh. Seb. Bach.

Notes and Source: George Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book for Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd, 1902, Revised And Enlarged Edition, 1929), Carol #22

1. To us is born a little Child
Of Mary, maiden mother mild:
Whom Angels laud with service sweet,
Let us His own poor servants greet.

Refrain
And therefore Father, Son, adore,
With Holy Ghost, forevermore.

2. Our king of Glory, Him have we,
The Lion-lord of victory:
The Father's sole-begotten Son
Light'ning the ages as they run. Refrain

3. That dear, through Him, to God we be,
From death deliver'd and set free:
Our death-wounds heal'd by His, despite
That dark old Dragon's deadly bite. Refrain

4. Now, masters all, full sweetly sing
Osanna to our Baby-king;
That hath but manger for His bed,
And straw whereon to lay His head. Refrain

Sheet Music from George Ratcliffe Woodward, ed., The Cowley Carol Book for Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd, 1902, Revised And Enlarged Edition, 1929), Carol #22

First Tune
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Second Tune
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Also found in G. R. Woodward, ed., The Hymns and Carols for Christmas-tide (London: H. Grice, 1897), Carol #10, pp. 18-19.

See: To Us Is Born A Little Child (from the German).

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