O Little Town of Bethlehem
Encyclopedia
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol
. The text was written by Phillips Brooks
(1835–1893), an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia
. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian
city of Bethlehem
in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his church and his organist, Lewis Redner
, added the music. Redner's tune, simply titled "St. Louis", is the tune used most often for this carol in the United States
.
In the United Kingdom
, and sometimes in the U.S. (especially in the Episcopal Church), the hymn tune "Forest Green" is used instead. "Forest Green" was adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams
from an English folk ballad called "The Ploughboy's Dream" which he had collected from a Mr. Garman of Forest Green, Gloucestershire
in 1903. Adapted into a hymn tune, it was first published in the English Hymnal
of 1906.
Another version by H. Walford Davies
, called "Wengen" (or sometimes just "Christmas carol"), is usually performed only by choirs rather than as a congregational hymn. This is because the first two verses are for treble voices with organ accompaniment, with only the final verse as a chorale/refrain harmony. This setting includes a recitative from the Gospel of Luke at the beginning, and cuts verses 2 and 4 of the original 5-verse carol. This version is traditionally used at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols
in Kings College, Cambridge.
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
. The text was written by Phillips Brooks
Phillips Brooks
Phillips Brooks was an American clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23...
(1835–1893), an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia
Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia
Church of the Holy Trinity is an Episcopal church on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first service in the church building, designed by Scottish architect John Notman, was held on March 27, 1859. The corner tower was added in 1867 and was designed by George W...
. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
city of Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his church and his organist, Lewis Redner
Lewis Redner
Lewis Henry Redner was an American musician, best known as the composer of the popular Christmas carol "St...
, added the music. Redner's tune, simply titled "St. Louis", is the tune used most often for this carol in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and sometimes in the U.S. (especially in the Episcopal Church), the hymn tune "Forest Green" is used instead. "Forest Green" was adapted by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
from an English folk ballad called "The Ploughboy's Dream" which he had collected from a Mr. Garman of Forest Green, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
in 1903. Adapted into a hymn tune, it was first published in the English Hymnal
English Hymnal
The English Hymnal was published in 1906 for the Church of England under the editorship of Percy Dearmer and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The preface to the hymnal began with the statement, "A collection of the best hymns in the English language." Much of the contents was used for the first time at St...
of 1906.
Another version by H. Walford Davies
Henry Walford Davies
Sir Henry Walford Davies KCVO OBE was a British composer, who held the title Master of the King's Musick from 1934 until 1941.-Early life and education:...
, called "Wengen" (or sometimes just "Christmas carol"), is usually performed only by choirs rather than as a congregational hymn. This is because the first two verses are for treble voices with organ accompaniment, with only the final verse as a chorale/refrain harmony. This setting includes a recitative from the Gospel of Luke at the beginning, and cuts verses 2 and 4 of the original 5-verse carol. This version is traditionally used at the service of Nine Lessons and Carols
Nine Lessons and Carols
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a format for a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas...
in Kings College, Cambridge.
Media
External links
- Free arrangements for piano and SATB from Cantorion.org (cc-by-sa-2.0, PD)
- Free arrangement for female choir SSA von Ulrich Kaiser
- Free score