Narration (3) (Bible or other Sacred Texts, set by R. Vaughan Williams, G. Finzi) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of 
the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round 
about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto 
them:

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in 
the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this 
shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in 
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the 
heavenly host praising God, and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will 
toward [men]¹. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we 
glorify thee, we give thee thanks for thy great glory, O Lord 
God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty."

"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which 
is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them 
into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the 
babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made 
known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were 
told them by the shepherds.

View text without footnotes
¹ Finzi: "all"; this is the last word set by Finzi of this text.

Input by Ahmed E. Ismail

Authorship

Bible or other Sacred Texts

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Hodie

Text is used as part of a longer work

Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)

full setting text

Date added to the website: 2006-07-26.

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