A Babe is Born in Bethlehem

Flute

2 Clarinets in B♭

English Horn

Bassoon

2 Horns in F

Timpani

Percussion I

Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum, Doumbek, Chimes

Percussion II

Crotales, Triangle

Celesta

Harp

SATB Choir

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Cello

Contrabass

This new setting of “A Babe is Born in Bethlehem” for SATB choir and chamber orchestra is based on the medieval Latin Christmas text, “Puer natus in Bethlehem.” The hymn dates back to the 13th century and is based on the opening lines of the Christmas Introit from the Graduale Romanum. This ancient text, found in many different redactions ranging from four to twelve stanzas, has likely been written by several authors. The English translation used in this arrangement is by Charles Porterfield Krauth (1823-1883), a pastor, theologian, and educator of the Lutheran church. The tune is a 19th-century anonymous folk song from Yorkshire, England, entitled “Spurn Point.”