“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Text: Phillips Brooks (1868)
Music: ST LOUIS (Lewis H. Redner), alt.
Arrangement: Dan Forrest
Copyright © 2017 Beckenhorst Press / www.beckenhorstpress.com
(As of the upload date of this video (15 Oct 2019), Beckenhorst Press allows posting of performances of its publications to KZread. See www.beckenhors...)
This video showcases a superlative arrangement of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Dan Forrest, performed by the Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale during its “Wintersong” concert on 01 Dec 2018 at College Church, Wheaton, IL. Concert footage (video, music) and images of Bethlehem and the Nativity (churchofjesuschrist.org, NASA.gov, pixabay.com, wikiart.org, wikimedia.org) enwrap the viewer in the dulcet longing that is inherent in this arrangement of this timeless carol. Conducted by Greg Wheatley and accompanied by an ensemble comprising piano (J.M (Mac) Willaert), strings, and soprano sax (Howard Whitaker).
For more information about the Chorale, please visit gewchorale.org.
For more videos of the Chorale, please visit “The Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale” and “MHP777” KZread channels.
Presentation © 2019 Mark H. Peterson.
(In this performance, I also sang tenor.)
Text:
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all the earth.
How silently, how silently, the wond'rous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessing of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray!
Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell!
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel.