This Joyful Morn

(Audio Sample - 920 KB) 

Now Once Again Our Hearts We Raise: Christmas Song Cycle 9

Now once again our hearts we raise

and sing our thankful songs of praise:

 

  Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

  Christus natus est! Christus natus est!

 

We come with praise this joyful morn

on which an age-long hope is born:

 

For unto us has come this day

a child to wipe all tears away:

 

We offer thanks this joyful morn

on which unfailing peace is born:

 

With gladness born of hope we sing

and welcome here our Shepherd King:

 

We wake from sleep this joyful morn

on which a life-long dream is born:

 

Make music, sing a cheerful song,

the One has come for whom we long:

 

We sing and dance this joyful morn

on which unending love is born:

 

So once again let all rejoice,

make merry sound and raise the voice:

 

We live in light this joyful morn

on which eternal life is born:

 

A Reflection on Luke 2: 7-11

In the countryside close by were shepherds, living in the fields, keeping guard over their sheep during the watched of the night.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said, "Do not be afraid; I bring you good news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ and Lord."

 

Composer's Reflection

This piece is a blend of a French pastorale, recalling the shepherd's pipes in the fields, and the English choral tradition, of resonating choristers reverberating across high-spun gothic vaulted ceilings. The refrain of this song, as in other carols in my Christmas Song Cycle, uses a device known as a macaronic. This is when the text switches between different languages, in this instance between English and Latin. It not only provides a medieval ring, but it also makes for a lot of fun to sing. Christus natus est, Christ is born for us. The choral descant is optional, and may be played on an instrument.

Odd-numbered verses are a proclamation, to be sung by cantor or unison choir sections. Even-numbered verses are the response, for choir and/or equal voice duet, using a mirror device in which the phrase with God this joyful morn is sung repeatedly, in litany form. Even verses are scored for flutes, piccolos are added to the two-voice refrain, and a handbell Intermezzo may be played between verses 5 and 6. The piece may also be sung by dividing the assembly into right and left sections, or low and high voices, providing an antiphonal style of singing.