Angels Sing Above the Stable (Noel Suisse) Top Pick
For Unison or SAB Choir and keyboard (piano, harpsichord or organ) - This charming and fun piece by Louis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772) is usually performed as a keyboard solo, now you can incorporate your choir as well. Completely flexible, the introductions to the tune can be lengthened or shortened, and descants and parts are optional. Learning tracks are available from the downloaded .pdf. If you like this one, be sure to check out a similar arrangement of Daquin's Noël "Grand Jeu et Duo".
Angels sing above the stable in the darkness
Calling on the shepherds and the world to come:
Come to see the baby shivering in the darkness,
Bringing light and joy to a darkling world.
Suddenly the star shines out with brilliant ray,
Illuming deepest darkness of our human minds,
Beaming hope into our all too human ways,
Leading all to worship in the stable rude:
Angels but foreshadow hopes fulfilled today.
That the Lord would send us mercy in his Son,
Oh Sing, rejoice, and shout a loud: salvation's come.
Shepherds run across the hills to bring the news,
now spread your joy to all the world: salvation's come.
So the Word must spread across the ages vast:
Joy to all the world, across the oceans deep.
So we sing of Christ's birth, Shout throughout all time:
Angels, men, their rules call to us today:
We are the hands of God and serve His infant Son.
God in love has sent us Christ His Son in comfort,
For our needs and sorrows in our narrow lives.
Rise and shout with joy to all your friends and neighbors
Telling them that peace has come to all the earth.
Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, has come to us.
Key of David, Shoot of Jesse, are his names.
Names of comfort and of kingship and of love:
Singing out our joy at this the Christmas news,
we call upon the world to join with us in joy.