Before the Paling of the Stars
Composer
Difficulty
Moderately Difficult
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Season
Voicing(s)
Category
Collections
Instrumental Only?
No
Description
SATB Choir with optional Keyboard, and optional Horn in F. Can be performed a cappella, or with horn, with keyboard, or with both. Just an exquisite setting of the poem by Christina Rossetti. Not especially easy, but well worth the effort! Sing for Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, or anytime during the Christmas Season.
Audio
Lyrics
Before the paling of the stars,
Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born:
Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
In the world his hands had made
Born a stranger.
Priest and king lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem;
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem;
Saint and angel, ox and ass,
Kept a watch together
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.
Jesus on his mother's breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless lamb of God was he,
Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary maid,
With Joseph bent and hoary,
With saint and angel, ox and ass,
to hail the King of Glory.
Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cock crow,
Jesus Christ was born:
Born in a stable,
Cradled in a manger,
In the world his hands had made
Born a stranger.
Priest and king lay fast asleep
In Jerusalem;
Young and old lay fast asleep
In crowded Bethlehem;
Saint and angel, ox and ass,
Kept a watch together
Before the Christmas daybreak
In the winter weather.
Jesus on his mother's breast
In the stable cold,
Spotless lamb of God was he,
Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary maid,
With Joseph bent and hoary,
With saint and angel, ox and ass,
to hail the King of Glory.