RSCM Christmas Carol Cards
The Angel Gabriel
This carol originates in a Basque carol entitled Birjina gaztettobat zegoen. Originally ‘discovered’ by the Reverend Sabine Baring Gould (of Onward Christian Soldiers fame) around 1907, he showed the music to Edgar Pettman, who edited it and it first appeared in the University Carol Book of 1922. The lyrical and lilting carol retells the story of the Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1. 26–38) and can be used as a congregational or choir carol, for which there have been many recent arrangements. It is ‘macronic’ in that it has verses in English and a Latin ‘Gloria’’ as a refrain.
Listen to The Angel Gabriel
Away in a manger
The earliest version of the first two verses is in Little children’s book: for schools and families. By authority of the general council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America (Philadelphia, 1885), where it appears as a ‘nursery’ hymn. There are at least 41 known tunes, of which Cradle Song is the UK favourite, first heard in the musical Around the World with Christmas in 1895. Away in a Manger begins by describing the baby Jesus asleep and not crying; and then in the central verse, we change ‘direction’ addressing the baby Christ: ‘I love thee….’. The third verse continues in that vein, with a touching prayer, as by a child, for all the other children.
We three kings
This carol is a dramatisation of the story of the wise men’s visit to Jesus, as recounted in Matthew 2.1–11. That passage does not say that those people who visited Christ from eastern lands, were Kings, nor that were there three of them! It was Origen (c.185–c.254) who first suggested that there were three gift-bearers, largely because three gifts are mentioned by Matthew and it was assumed from an early date that they brought one each. Gold is for Kingship, proclaiming the royal child; Frankincense indicates access to the presence of God, and emphasises Jesus’ worthiness of praise, and his becoming a living human presence among us. Myrrh signifies death but also love and joy.
While Shepherds watched their flocks by night
The words for While shepherds watched their flocks is a paraphrase of Luke’s Gospel Chapter 2. 1–20. The tune most commonly used is ascribed to George Kirbye in Thomas Este’s The whole booke of psalmes, 1592, possibly derived from Christopher Tye’s The Acts of the Apostles, 1553. The carol tells of shepherds taking care of their flocks at night. An angel appeared to them and told them not to be afraid as he brought good news, “This very day in David’s town your saviour was born–Christ the Lord!” They would find the baby wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger.
Carols performed by
St Martin’s Voices, directed by Andrew Earis
part of A Church Near You Resource Hub, provided by the Church of England working with St Martin in the Fields and The Royal School of Church Music
and The RSCM Bath Course 2022
Artwork by Sue Rinaldi
Sue Rinaldi is a children's illustrator inspired by the whimsical, imaginary world of childhood. She trained as a violinist at the Royal College of Music and worked in the publishing department of the BBC Proms for several years. Her first love of illustration resurfaced years later when she started her family. Commissions include work for the BBC Proms and London Symphony Orchestra, the charity Music In Hospitals & Care and flourishing business Squelch Wellies. For the past couple of years she has taken part in Nina Rycroft's Picture Book Illustration Course. Passionate about children's picture books, she has worked on two titles by self-publishing authors ('Is That Really Santa Claus?' by Clare Thompson and 'The Butterfly that Couldn't Fly' by Suzie Brown). Sue Rinaldi is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
