Once, in Royal David's City — Choir of Westminster Cathedral

The Choir of Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic) in London, under the direction of James O'Donnell, perform Cecil Frances Alexander's popular Christmas hymn 'Once in Royal David's City,' widely recognisable from the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge. Treble solo by Mark Kennedy. Descant arr. James O'Donnell.

(On a note of personal preference: I have enjoyed hearing many, MANY choristers' efforts with this very famous opening solo, but I believe that this particular one is among the finest of them. It's only a pity that the fourth verse—perhaps for fear of over-sentimentalising—is omitted here; this might be a perfect rendition, otherwise.)

Text:

Once, in royal David's city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and meek and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And through all
His wondrous childhood,
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly mother,
In whose gentle arms He lay.
Christian children all should be,
Mild, obedient, good as He.

[[Omitted verse:
For He is our child-hood's pattern,
Day by day like us He grew,
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew,
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.]]

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on,
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him, but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high;
When like stars
His children crowned,
All in white shall wait around.

Category:

Music

Tags:

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• chapel choir
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• treble solo
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• anglican
• catholic
• christmas music
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[akaanism]

traditional xmas carol cant jst be puched aside...the melodies takes one tru the feelings of the nite that christ was born