The Cyber Hymnal ‎#13114

13114. Today In Bethlehem Hear I

1 Today in Bethlehem hear I
Sweet angel voices singing—
All Glory be to God on High
Who Peace to earth is bringing.

2 The Virgin Mary holdeth more
Than highest Heav’n most holy:
Light shines on what was dark before,
And lifteth up the lowly.

3 God wills that peace should be in earth
And holy exultation:
Sweet Babe, I greet Thy spotless birth
And wondrous Incarnation.

4 Today in Bethlehem hear I
Even the lowly singing:
With angel words they pierce the sky
All earth with joy is ringing.

Text Information

• First Line: Today in Bethlehem hear I
• Title: Today In Bethlehem Hear I
• Greek Title: Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ
• Author: John of Damascus, 8th Century
• Translator: William C. Dix
• Meter: 87.87 D
• Language: English
• Source: Tr.: Lyra Messianica by Orby Shipley (London: Longman, Green, Longman, roberts & Green, 1864)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: By John the Monk, gen­er­al­ly held to be the same as St. John of Da­mas­cus (q.v.). This is found in the Of­fice of the Greek Church for Christ­mas Day, where it is sung at the ser­vice At the first hour of the Night, when Col­lect­ed again in the Church, we be­gin Com­pline ac­cord­ing to cus­tom, and af­ter the Glo­ry be to God on high, we go out in­to the Nar­thex mak­ing the Pro­cess­ion, and chant­ing there Id­i­o­me­lic sti­che­ra to the first tone ([Ri-chard F.] Lit­tle­dale's Of­fices, &c. p. 178), of which the Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ is a por­tion… The orig­in­al Greek text, which dates from about the mid­dle of the eighth cen­tury, is giv­en in Dr. Lit­tle­dale's Of­fic­es, &c 1863, p. 63. Julian, pp. 307–08

Tune Information

• Name: CONSTANCE
• Composer: Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1875)
• Meter: 87.87 D
• Key: E♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain