Before the Paling of the Stars

McDowall, Cecilia (b. 1951)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Organ

Occasion:

Proper of Time → Christmas Season → The Nativity of the Lord → General
Proper of Time → Christmas Season → The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Publication Information:
Oxford University Press — NH118 (2013)
ISBN 978-0-19-339695-1

Text Information:
Reference: Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)

Duration: 4:00
Lyrics:

Before the paling of the stars,
Before the winter morn,
Before the earliest cockcrow,
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, os and ass,
To hail the King of Glory.

Jesus Christ was born.

Notes: SATB with Soprano and Alto divisi.
Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Oct 30, 2021 Last updated: Jan 22, 2022