Where Is This Stupendous Stranger?
Two-Part Choir (Unison plus optional descant) and Organ. A flexible anthem that can be done in a number of ways. If you have a smaller choir, this is a great setting of this wonderful text for Christmas and beyond into Epiphany.
Text by Christopher Smart (1722-1771)
Where is this stupendous stranger?
Prophets, shepherds, kings, advise.
Lead me to my Master's manger,
show me where my Savior lies.
O Most Mighty! O Most Holy!
Far beyond the seraph's thought:
art thou then so weak and lowly
as unheeded prophets taught?
O the magnitude of meekness!
Worth from worth immortal sprung;
O the strength of infant weakness,
if eternal is so young!
God all-bounteous, all-creative,
whom no ills from good dissuade,
is incarnate, and a native
of the very world he made.