Incarnation Album Liner Notes

Incarnation (1994, 1996)

Album Liner Notes

1. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (R. Pritchard, 19th C.)

Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart. --C. Wesley, 18th C.

2. What Child Is This? (trad. Eng., 16th C.)

Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary. --C. Dix, 19th C.

3. Blessed Be That Maid Marie (trad. Eng.)

Born he was of her body;
Very God ere time began,
Born in time the Son of man. -William Ballet’s Lute Book, 1594

4. Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (J. Schop, 17th C.; harm. J. Bach)

This child, now weak in infancy,
Our confidence and joy shall be,
The power of Satan breaking,
Our peace eternal making. --J. Rist, 17th C.

5. Still, Still, Still (trad. Austrian)

Sleep, sleep, sleep
‘Tis the eve of our Savior’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you:
Close your eyes, let sleep surround you.

6. Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Plainsong, 13th C.)

He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending he
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see. --A. Prudentius, 4th C.

7. Babe of Bethlehem (trad. Am. ballad)

Hail, promised morn, the Savior’s born,
The glorious mediator --
God’s blessed word made flesh and blood,
Assumed the human nature.

8. Sweet Little Jesus Boy (by Robert MacGimsey, © 1934 Carl Fischer Music; used with permission)

Didn’t know you’d come to save us, Lord,
To take our sins away:
Our eyes was blind -- we couldn’t see --
We didn’t know who you was.

9. Silent Night (F. Gruber, 1818)

Son of God, love’s pure light,
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace. --J. Mohr, 1818

10. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Geistliche Kirchengesang, Koln, 16th C.)

This flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispells with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere. --Germ. carol, 16th C.

11. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (trad. London, 18th C.)

To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy!

12. Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabelle (trad. Fr., 17th C.)

Bring a torch, to the cradle run!
It is Jesus, good folk of the village;
Christ is born and Mary’s calling!

13. Midwinter Etude (T. Seaman) / Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (trad. Fr., 17th C.)

And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For, with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand. --Liturgy of St. James

14. Pastoral Symphony from Messiah (G. Handel, 18th C.) 2:51

(Handel said he learned this tune from piping shepherds in northern Italy.)

15. Of the Father’s Love Begotten (reprise) / Christ Child Lullaby (trad. Scot.)

My love, my pride, my treasure-oh,
My wonder new and pleasure-oh,
My son, my beauty ever you,
Who am I to bear you here?

16. In the Bleak Midwinter (G. Holst, 20th C.)

Heaven cannot hold him,
Nor earth contain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign;
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God almighty,
Incarnate Jesus Christ. --C. Rossetti, 19th C.