Story Behind the Song
Though “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is considered a song for children, it was written by a giant of a man, Phillips Brooks, who was a prince of a preacher. While in the Holy Land in 1865 Phillips visited Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity on Christmas eve. This church stands on the traditional site of Jesus’ birth and celebrates Christmas eve with a wonderful service. The great Episcopal pastor was greatly enthused by the spectacle.
Three years later he needed a Christmas song for the children’s service at his church in Philadelphia. He loved children. So, inspired by his experience in Bethlehem, Phillips wrote this marvelous hymn of praise.
He certainly touched the youth in his church. After Phillips died it is said that one five-year-old girl was upset because she hadn’t seen him recently. Upon inquiry her mom said that the bishop had gone to heaven. Happily the girl responded, “Oh, Mama, how happy the angels will be.”
Indeed all heaven rejoices with us as we praise the Lord. Not only did the angels celebrate upon Phillips’ arrival in heaven, they continue to rejoice even as we sing his wonderful song of praise every year in celebration of God becoming man. This instrumental arrangement focuses on eliciting this very praise from those who hear it.
In order to capture that children’s atmosphere of this song I began it with a simple guitar as a flute plays the melody. Even as the wispy piano joins in during the second verse, an oboe accompanies the flute in the melody.
I wanted the Wigtune Christmas CD to embody an arrangement that included a time of reflection. I decided that “Away in a Manger” would be the piece that would fulfill this mission. So, I borrowed an idea that I used in the Wigtune Revelation musical “Before His Royal Throne.” This was inserted right after the second verse as a chorus of strings enters in with in a pastoral mood. This thicker sound continues through the next two verses to finally culminate with the same reflective chorus which concludes the song.
We pray that this arrangement does indeed inspire meditation regarding the importance of that supernatural act of God when Christ was born in Bethlehem.
Lyrics
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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 in 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 men on earth.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
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 in us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Arrangement Copyright © 1999 Don Wigton
A free chord chart to this song is available at the Wigtune Home Page @ http://userzweb.lightspeed.net/wigton/wigtune.htm
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