I Sing the Birth – Carol Barnett

Composer: Carol Barnett

Text by: Ben Jonson (1572-1637), Soterios Stavrou, Wedderburn (1567), Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953), Charles Wesley (1707-1788).

Instrumentation: SATB divisi, percussion

Duration: c. 14:00
    -- 1) I Sing the Birth  [c 3:45]
    -- 2) Quem Pastores  [c 2:00]
    -- 3) Balulalow  [3:45]
    -- 4) The Birds  [c 2:00]
    -- 5) Inextinguishable Blaze  [c 4:00] 

Date Written:  2003

Composer’s note:  

I Sing the Birth was written in 2003 for the South Bend Chamber Singers, Nancy Menk, director. It begins as a traditional celebratory Christmas suite, joyously announcing the birth, telling of the shepherds and wise men, singing a lullaby. It goes on to tell of four-year-old Jesus and the miracle of the birds, and ends with a prayer to keep the ardent joy of Christmas in us always. The first two movements share the jubilant sound of A major. The last two movements flow together, connected by the spirit of prayer and the key of B major. The lullaby stands alone, a peaceful interlude in the midst of deeply felt emotions.

“I Sing the Birth” – In joyous A Lydian mode, accompanied by bright vibraphone, the choir announces the birth of Christ at the beginning of each stanza. Commentaries in F Major follow, accompanied by chattering woodblocks, subdued at first but growing in excitement, and finally returning to a glorious A tonality. The piece ends on the dominant E to underscore the question: “Can man forget the story?”

“Quem Pastores” – High and low voices vie in the first two stanzas to tell the story of the shepherds and wise men. They come together in the final stanza in a stately chorale, accompanied by lively rhythmic patterns in the marimba.

Set in the traditional, gently rocking 6/8 rhythm of a lullaby, and supported by the dreamy sound of marimba played with soft mallets, “Balulalow” carries us off to sleep in the reassuring tonality of G Mixolydian.

“The Birds” – This account of Christ as a young child breathing life into small birds of clay features percussion evocative of a child at play: lively rattles, thoughtful fragments on the marimba, and a sudden burst of cymbals when the birds come to life. The song ends with a prayerful meditation.

“Inextinguishable Blaze” – Charles Wesley’s fervent desire to “work and speak and think for Thee” finds its musical voice in this setting, which starts and ends in the celestial key of B major, while migrating to unexpected tonalities along the way. This peaceful yet earnest chorale is a perfect balance between simplicity and majesty, making it a wonderful final piece for any Advent concert.

text

I sing the birth was born tonight,
The author both of life and light;
The angels so did sound it,
And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it.

The Son of God, the Eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed the soul from danger;
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

The Father’s wisdom willed it so,
The son’s obedience knew no No,
Both wills were in one stature;
And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on him our nature.

What comfort by him we do win,
Who made himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of Glory!
To see this babe, all innocence,
A martyr born in our defense,
Can man forget the story?
– Ben Jonson (1572-1637)

Quem pastores laudavere,
Quibus angeli dixere,
Absit vobis jam timere,
Natus est rex gloriae.

Ad quem magi ambulabant,
Aurum, thus, myrrham portabant.
Immolabant haec sincere
Nato regi gloriae.

Christo regi, Deo nato,
Per Mariam nobis dato,
Merito resonet vere
Laus, honor et gloria.
German, 14th century

He whom the shepherds praised,
To whom the angels said,
Do not be afraid now,
Born is the king of glory.

To whom the wise men journeyed,
Bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh,
They offered these sincerely
To the newborn king of glory.

To Christ the King, to God who is born,
Given to us through Mary,
To the one deserving praise, let there truly resound
Praise, honor, and glory.
– Translated by Soterios Stavrou
(used with permission)

O my deare hert, young Jesu sweit,
Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee in my hert,
And never mair from thee depart.

But I sall praise thee evermore,
With sanges sweit unto thy gloir:
The knees of my hert sall I bow,
And sing that richt balulalow.
– Wedderburn, 1567

When Jesus Christ was four years old,
The angels brought Him toys of gold,
Which no man ever had bought or sold.

And yet with these He would not play.
He made Him small fowl out of clay,
And blessed them till they flew away:
Tu creasti Domine.

Jesus Christ, Thou child so wise,
Bless mine hands and fill mine eyes,
And bring my soul to Paradise.
– Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953)

O Thou Who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire to impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.

There let it for Thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze,
And trembling to its source return,
In humble prayer and fervent praise.

Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
To work and speak and think for Thee;
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up Thy gift in me.

Ready for all Thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat,
’Til death Thy endless mercies seal,
And make my sacrifice complete.
– Charles Wesley (1707-1788)