When I lived in Utah we had an amazing ward choir. Sister Farnsworth was an incredibly talented musician and choir director, and the members of the choir had so much fun together. We even sounded pretty good! The best part (maybe) of the choir, though, was that we got to try new and interesting songs/hymns. The bishop of the Ward (Bishop Farley) was very open to these different songs and arrangements. He was a choir director himself for many years, and even sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - as did his lovely wife.
One of the Christmas Carols I came to know through this experience is the Candlelight Carol by John Rutter. John Rutter is a well-known choral composer/arranger. His songs are beautiful and yet approachable. The combination of lyrics and melody make this song truly beautiful.
The YouTube video (link) has the words and music - so you can sing along if you'd like! I do!
One caveat - Mr. Rutter is not LDS, so the third verse does not represent a strict interpretation of LDS doctrine with relation to the Godhead. Christ, the babe born in Bethlehem, was not the "Godhead incarnate"... Since the Father is already "incarnate" it would be difficult to have two physical beings in the same place at the same time. When we sang the song we changed the word to "Godhood"... It's a little more accurate with LDS doctrine that way and still fit the meter...
Here's the lyrics:
CANDLELIGHT CAROL
by John Rutter
Verse 1: How do you capture the wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How can you measure the love of a mother,
or how can you write down a baby's first cry?
REFRAIN: Candlelight, angel light,
firelight and starglow
shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn.
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis deo!
Angels are singing; the Christ Child is born.
Verse 2. Shepherds and wisemen will kneel and adore him,
Seraphim round him their vigil will keep;
Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Savior,
but Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep.
(REFRAIN)
Verse 3. Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger:
Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay.
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation:
A child with his mother that first Christmas Day.
(REFRAIN)
Comments
My mother is not Mary, nor am I Christ. But the feeling of love and devotion between mother and son is very real and very clear. I think we can all identify with this, and it's what makes this song so amazing...