Day 24/Track 23. What Child is This?

Author: William Chatterton Dix, 1865

Tune: Greensleeves

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

The author of this hymn, William C. Dix, was a businessman. This was unique, because the majority of hymn writers at his time were clergy. He wrote the hymn during a disabling illness that lead him to a spiritual awakening. His suffering lead to introspection and a desire to express his thoughts in an artistic and creative way.

Written from the shepherd’s perspective, this hymn asks questions that are answered by the chorus.

“This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary!

This is a beautiful hymn set to the soothing English folksong, Greensleeves. I remember singing this with one of my high school girlfriends. We would sing the hymn and then Greensleeves to compare them.

Several of the hymns on my 25 day journey were written following a painful or difficult season in the author’s life. Have you found new wisdom you’ve desired to express following a difficult season of your life?

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Day 14/ Track 14. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Author:  Translated by J. M. Neale, 1851

Tune:  Veni Emmanuel

Scripture: Matthew 1:23

This hymn comes from a poem that dates back to the 8^th century.  The poem was used during the evening prayers in a call and response format.  Considered part of the “Great ‘O’ Antiphons”, in the medieval Roman Catholic Advent liturgy.  On each day of the week leading up to Christmas, one old testament name for the coming Messiah would be chanted.  When we sing this hymn today, we acknowledge that Jesus has come and we also call to him to return to us again.  The lyrics especially resonate today, in this time of war in Israel.

I love to listen to this hymn and its’ beautiful melody.   The words are humble, desperate with longing and filled with faith. I echo its’ sentiment, “Jesus, please, come back to us soon”.   

Where does this hymn rank in your list of favorites?

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Author: Original text from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, adapted to music by John Baptiste Calkin in 1848, Johnny Marks in 1956, and others.

Tune: Waltham (Calkin)

Scriptural reference: Luke 2:14.

Originally a poem, written by Henry W. Longfellow during the American Civil War. He was widowed for two years and greatly concerned for the well-being of his son, a lieutenant in the Union Amy. Hearing Christmas bells his poem compares the contrasts of loss, war, hatred and the promise of Christmas. Its’ a beautiful read for today, with war, hatred and loss all around us as well as God’s promise of salvation, peace on earth and goodwill to men. Stanzas 3 and 4 are aimed at our hearts today.

As Christians we are asked to hold these two opposing ideas in our minds and see that our hope in God’s truth shines brightest.

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard this song in Church, but I have heard it many times during the Christmas season on the radio. I am thankful for this 25 hymns in 25 days journey. I was able to slow down and read the lyrics and consider my own faith.

How are these lyrics speak to you this year?

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Author: A well-known German carol, its’ origin is unknown. Translated by Theodore Baker in the late 1500’s.

Tune: Jungst

Scriptural reference: Luke 2:8-20

This carol focusses on the shepherds’ experience as they journey to find the new born baby. Their encounter with the baby is both tender and worshipful. It is believed that this song was written for a Christmas play, with echos from back-stage returning the shepherd’s lines.

I am not familiar with this hymn, to me it’s a new discovery 500 years in the making.

Is this a familiar Christmas Hymn to you?

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Author: Charles Wesley, 1739. George Whitefield, 1758, 1782. David Willcocks, 1961.

Tune: Vaterland, in deimen Gauen

Scriptural reference: Luke 2:14

This hymn underwent several rewrites before it settled into the hymn we are familiar with today. Perhaps the angels themselves were involved in its evolution? The angels and their celebratory praise of God’s miraculous work is the focus of this hymn. God’s greatest cheering squad is calling our attention to the spiritual triumph that God has achieved in his son, Jesus, the Newborn King. As sinners, we now can be reconciled with God. If we can’t fully grasp the importance of this moment, the angels can, and they don’t want us to miss it.

This hymn is considered one of the top four Anglican hymns. Ranking number two, following “All Praise to Thee, my God, this Night.”

This is a beautiful majestic hymn and one that stirs up many memories of Christmas services. Most of my memories include church choirs, with their formal choir robes, singing this hymn in beautiful harmonies.

What memories does this hymn bring back to you?

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Author:  Heinrich Suso, 1300’s, translated by John Jason Neale, 1533

Tune: In Dulci Jubilo

The title was updated over the years to: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

Suso, a Dominican friar, was considered the most popular writer of the fourteenth century, writing in everyday language to better reach his local audience.  Like many songs of that time, this carol was written to aid in teaching bible stories to peasants through folk music. 

The carol was mentioned by 14th century writer who claimed that angels sang this hymn while dancing with Heinrich Suso.  It’s not hard to picture that possibility while listening.

Years ago, in my ipod nano days, this song was on an album in a playlist that I listened to when I had trouble sleeping. It brings back cheerful and comforting memories, Fernando Ortega style.

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Author:  John Wesley Work, Jr.,  1909

This Christmas Carol was written by John Work, a musicologist and the first African-American collector of folk songs and spirituals.  The origins of this song are unknown. It is assumed the lyrics were handed down through an oral tradition.  Mr. Work and his brother Frederick updated the text and composed the tune.  Often sung on Christmas morning, loud and cheerful, declaring the birth of Jesus.

My brothers and I enjoyed singing this song, and stretching out the last word of each verse with a dramatic and playful pause. I also enjoyed the upbeat and happy tune that encouraged hand clapping the beat and smiles all around.  It always brings a smile to my face.

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Track 4: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Author: Charles Wesley, 1744

Tune(s): Stuttgart, Hyfrydol, Cross of Jesus

This hymn was written by Charles Wesley, who is regarded as one of the greatest hymn-writers of all-time. I found it interesting that he was the 18th and youngest child in his family.

This hymn is a full and beautiful expressiion of Advent, reflecting on Jesus’s first coming and looking forward to his second. What we waited for and what we now wait for, promises fulfilled and a promise yet to come. My favorite line is, (Jesus is the) “Joy of every longing heart”, reminding us that we all have a “longing” in our hearts and those who find Jesus will satisfy this longing. The gift only God can give.

I was not familiar with this hymn but the hyfrodol tune is very familiar to me and has been playing in my head for days now.

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Track 3: Away in the Manger

Authors:  Stanzas 1 and 2 are attributed to Martin Luther (1500’s), Stanza 3 was written by John T. McFarland in 1892

Tune:  Cradle Song (Britian)  Mueller (United States)

The first two stanzas are attributed to Martin Luther, as a song he sang to his children.  The melody was composed hundreds of years later and has two different melodies, both sound like lullabies.  The lyrics gently celebrate Jesus as a baby.  Sleeping quietly in a manger while surrounded by the gentle sounds of farm animals.  

Based on Luke 2:7. She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them the Inn.

This is one of the most well-known and popular Christmas hymns.  I remember its’ melody throughout my life; a music box, Sunday school, Christmas pageants and Christmas Eve services.  Isn’t it remarkable that it may have started in Marin Luther’s home in the 1500’s and continues to fill our senses in 2023.

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Track 2:  Angels We Have Heard on High

Originally a French carol.  James Chadwick, a Roman Catholic Bishop, translated and paraphrased the carol in 1862 and titled Angels we Have Heard on High.

Tune: Gloria

This hymn focuses on the birth of Christ and the angelic celebration that surrounding his arrival.  This hymn instantly brings back memories, both old and new.  As a young girl, I can remember standing in church with my parents, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  I can feel the warm prickly wool of my grandmother’s coat and hear my mother’s beautiful voice as they sang this hymn.  I reached the height of their waists and felt enclosed in the safety of all the adults I loved.  In newer memories, I am the adult and the kids around me are standing and wiggling and looking around at all the lights and sounds as we all sing together.  I wonder, what memories this hymn may have for them in their 60’s?

The words mean so much more to me today, words to worship our Lord Jesus.   And the gift inside the melody is a treasure of memories.    

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I became inspired on Thanksgiving Day to study 25 traditional Christmas hymns during December.  In a discussion with family, some of us admitted that we get a little tired of hearing Christmas music everywhere we go in December.  For me, it’s the modern Christmas soundtrack that wears me out by mid-month.  I’ve since decided what I really miss are Christmas hymns.  The ones found in the hymnals that used to be tucked under our church pews. Hymns always bring back fond memories of being in church with family and friends.

Turns out, studying a Christmas-hymn-a-day during December is not an original thought.  There are a lot of blogs, articles and lists of the best hymns to study.  I took a random route and found an on-line album of 25 Classic Christmas Hymns and plan to tackle them in order. 

This beautiful hymn rejoices in the birth of Jesus, declares him as the Messiah and the great desire of all the nations.  This baby is the one they waited for and the one to whom all knees will one day bow.   The tune is, Regent Square.  It’s tempo and the forceful march of chords creates a sense of urgency and great importance.    

I’m carrying with me a piece of the author’s life story.  Starting at the age of 6, he attended a boy’s boarding school and at 10, he began writing poetry. In describing his boarding school experience, he is quoted as saying,

“ There, whatever we did was done in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, whom we were taught to regard in the amiable and endearring light of a friend and brother.”

How have you been taught to regard Jesus?

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I created a short slide show of the artwork from my last series: 150 Psalms, 150 Days. The video boils it down to 90 seconds. The actual writing, artwork and posting was closer to 6750 minutes over the last 150 days. Yet, a mere blink in eternity.

A big Thank-You for following me and exploring the Bible together.

Happy New Year!!

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I created a short slide show of the artwork from my last series: 150 Psalms, 150 Days. The video boils it down to 90 seconds. The actual writing, artwork and posting was closer to 6750 minutes over the last 150 days. Yet, a mere blink in eternity.

A big Thank-You for following me and exploring the Bible together.

Happy New Year!!

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