The shepherds had an angel (Maurice Besly)
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- (Posted 2023-02-20) CPDL #72734:
- Editor: Douglas Walczak (submitted 2023-02-20). Score information: Letter, 9 pages, 102 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: The shepherds had an angel
Composer: Maurice Besly
Lyricist: Christina Rossetti
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Hymn
Language: English
Instruments:
First published: 1923
Description: Although the accompaniment calls for an English Horn, a C instument such as a viola may be substituted.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
The Shepherds had an Angel,
The Wise Men had a star,
But what have I, a little child,
To guide me home from far,
Where glad stars sing together
And singing angels are? –
Lord Jesus is my Guardian,
So I can nothing lack:
The lambs lie in His bosom
Along life's dangerous track:
The wilful lambs that go astray
He bleeding fetches back.
Lord Jesus is my guiding star,
My beacon-light in heaven:
He leads me step by step along
The path of life uneven:
He, true light, leads me to that land
Whose day shall be as seven.
Those Shepherds through the lonely night
Sat watching by their sheep,
Until they saw the heavenly host
Who neither tire nor sleep,
All singing 'Glory glory'
In festival they keep.
Christ watches me, His little lamb,
Cares for me day and night,
That I may be His own in heaven:
So angels clad in white
Shall sing their 'Glory glory'
For my sake in the height.