A Child This Day Is Born

For Christmas

Version 1
Compare:
A Child This Day Is Born - Sandys - Version 2
A Child This Day is Born - Bramley & Stainer - Version 3
A Child This Day Is Born - Pettman - Version 4

Words & Music: Traditional
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

Carol 494, Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New
(Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)

1. A Child this day is born,
A Child of high renown;
Most worthy of a sceptre,
A sceptre and a crown.

Chorus¹
Glad tidings to all men,
Glad tidings sing we may,
Because the King of Kings,
Was born on Christmas Day

2. These tidings shepherds heard
While watching o’er their fold;
Twas by an Angel unto them
That night revealed and told. Chorus

3. To whom the Angel spoke,
Saying, "Be not afraid;"
Be glad, poor silly shepherds --
Why are you so dismayed? Chorus

4. "For lo! I bring you tidings
Of gladness and of mirth,
Which cometh to all people by
This holy Infant's birth" Chorus

5. Then was there with the Angel
An host incontinent²
Of heavenly bright soldiers,
All from the highest sent.³ Chorus

6. They praised the Lord our God,
And our celestial King:
All glory be in Paradise,
This heavenly host do sing. Chorus

7. And as the Angel told them,
So to them did appear;
They found the young Child, Jesus Christ
With Mary, his mother dear:  Chorus

8. All glory be to God,
That sitteth still on high
with praises and with triumph great,
And joyful melody. Chorus

Notes:

1. Alternate chorus from Shaw and Dearmer:

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Nowell, sing all we may
Because the King of kings
Was born this blessed day. Return

2. Instantly or immediately. Return

3. Or: Which from the Highest was sent. Return

Alternate verses from A Festival Service of Nine Lessons And Appropriate Music. London: Oxford University Press, 1934.

2. These tidings shepherds heard,
In field watching their fold,
Were by an angel unto them
That night reveal'd and told: Chorus

6. Lauding the Lord our God,
And his celestial King;
All glory be in Paradise,
This heavenly host did sing. Chorus

Additional verses 3, 4, and 7 from Shaw and Dearmer (below)

Sheet Music from Hutchins

Sheet Music: Martin Shaw and Percy Dearmer, The English Carol Book, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1913), Carol #1

Sheet Music From A Festival Service of Nine Lessons And Appropriate Music. London: Oxford University Press, 1934.

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