This Christmas carol which can be sung to the tune of Sibelius' Finlandia' hymn has been described as 'Mighty words for a mighty tune'. The theme is the cosmic disturbances that attended the birth of Jesus.
Carol of the Cosmos Finlandia *(10.10.10.10.10.10)
Be still small earth, this is the night of nights,
Your great Creator hovers at your gates,
In human form, now to become a babe
To Jewish maid, who for this moment waits:
Fulfilling now the ancient prophecies,
Her child, the Saviour of the human race.
You nightly stars surrounding Bethlehem,
Prepare yourselves to be eclipsed this night,
An angel host, with joyful beating wings
Clothes all the waiting hills with brilliant light.
And shepherds, spurned by those of wealth and might,
Are first to see the Christ, this holy sight.
O dazzling skies, welcome a stranger star
To play its part, a brief and guiding role:
To bring from far, sage watchers of the night
Who linked its light to what the prophets told.
Trav’ling with gifts to celebrate The King
Rich myrrh and frankincense and precious Gold.
‘Twas by this child th'eternal Word came flesh
God’s pledge unveiled, such holy mystery.
Come praise him now, this coming was for us,
His cosmic task laid by to set us free.
From death the natural end in time and space
He calls our souls beyond to his great grace.
Trevor Thorn
*Words and The tune Finlandia are copyright © Breitkopf and Haertel, Wiesbaden, Germany.
Words are copyright © 2011. Permission, where required can be obtained via the company's website at www.breitkopf.com
The tune can be found, among other places, in Common Praise No 384 (UK), Hymns Old and New No 61 (UK), Trinity Hymnal p689 (USA). A piano score of the tune as a pdf document can also be accessed at http://www.hymnsite.com/pdf/534piano.pdf
If you like this Carol, you might also be interested in other recently written/ published on this blog which are listed in the Index of Carols CLICK HERE These include
*Words and The tune Finlandia are copyright © Breitkopf and Haertel, Wiesbaden, Germany.
Words are copyright © 2011. Permission, where required can be obtained via the company's website at www.breitkopf.com
The tune can be found, among other places, in Common Praise No 384 (UK), Hymns Old and New No 61 (UK), Trinity Hymnal p689 (USA). A piano score of the tune as a pdf document can also be accessed at http://www.hymnsite.com/pdf/534piano.pdf
If you like this Carol, you might also be interested in other recently written/ published on this blog which are listed in the Index of Carols CLICK HERE These include
An Angel Told Shepherds With Great, Great Joy (A children’s counting carol)
Before the Creation, the Word was with God (The Chriistmas Gospel sung to ‘To God be the Glory)
In Bethlehem, with Borrowed Cattle Stall (Sung to Plaisir D’Amour, French folksong tune with fanfare for Isaiah’s proclamation)
Vivid Winter’s Morn (A carol in ‘Rock’ mode)
