I Sing the Birth (from I Sing the Birth) – Carol Barnett

Composer: Carol Barnett

Text by: Ben Jonson (1572-1637)

Instrumentation: SATB divisi, percussion

Duration: c 3:45

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?”

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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)