A Virgin Most Pure

Averitt, William (b. 1948)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Unaccompanied

Occasion:

Proper of Time → Christmas Season → The Nativity of the Lord → General
Proper of Time → Christmas Season → The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God

Publication Information:
ECS Publishing — 7115 (2009)

Text Information:
Reference: Traditional English

Lyrics:

A virgin most pure, as the prophets do tell,
Hath brought forth a baby, as it hath befell,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell, and sin,
Which Adam’s transgression hath wrapped us in:
And therefore be merry, set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide.
And therefore be merry, set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide.	

At Bethl’em in Jewry a city there was,
Where Joseph and Mary together did pass,
And there to be taxed with many one more,
For Ceasar commanded the same should be so:
And therefore be merry, set sorrows aside;
Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide.

But when they had entered the city so fair,
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lodging at all.

Then were they constrained in a stable to lie,
Where horses and asses they used for a tie;
Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn:
But against the next morning our Savior was born:
And therefore be merry, set sorrows aside,
Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide.

Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Oct 28, 2021 Last updated: Jan 16, 2022