canasg choral music publishing

CH4011

A boy was born

medieval words set to music for SATB chorus
by Douglas Cook

SATB performance time approx 1m 00s

from

A sequence of carols

Composer's note

The words of this ancient and joyful carol (the oldest versions of which are in Latin and German) have been set to music by many composers. My version, in Percy Dearmer's English translation, has a modal flavour and makes a vigorous start to the sequence of carols.

The other carols in the sequence are: The Virgin's cradle hymn, I sing of a maiden and In excelsis gloria (all published by Canasg). Total duration c 5' 00.

Music

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Words

A boy was born

A Boy was born in Bethlehem,
Rejoice for that, Jerusalem!
Alleluia!

For low he lay within a stall,
Who rules for ever over all:
Alleluia!

Then praise the Word of God who came
To dwell within a human frame:
Alleluia!

And praised be God in three-fold might
And glory bright,
Eternal, good and infinite!
Alleluia!

'A boy was born in Bethlehem' translated by Percy Dearmer, from The Oxford Book of Carols.
Š Oxford University Press 1928. Used by permission.

see the next... song in the cycle

Price per copy Ł1.00 ($1.50)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the Christmas section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

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