Gabriel's Message

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Instrumentation: SATB double chorus (soprano solo) and organ Completed: September, 2011 Duration: 4 minutes Text: from New Poems (1896) by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), and "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (Gabriel's Message)," by S. Baring-Gould (1834-1924). Commissioned: by St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia and The Crossing, Donald Nally, conductor, to be premiered on December 16, 2011 by The Crossing and the choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Featured on The Crossing's "Christmas Daybreak" broadcast, distributed by PRI to public radio stations throughout the USA, December 2011

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Text

Before the paling of the stars,
  Before the winter morn,
  Before the earliest cock-crow
  Jesus Christ was born:
    Born in a stable
  Cradled in a manger,
In the world His hands had made
  Born a stranger.

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame:
"All hail," said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favour'd lady." Gloria!

"For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favour'd lady." Gloria!

Priest and King lay fast asleep
  In Jerusalem,
Young and old lay fast asleep
  In crowded Bethlehem:
Saint and Angel, ox and ass,
  Kept a watch together,
  Before the Christmas daybreak
  In the winter weather.

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name."
Most highly favour'd lady. Gloria!

Jesus on His Mother's breast
  In the stable cold,
Spotless Lamb of God was He,
  Shepherd of the fold:
Let us kneel with Mary Maid,
  With Joseph bent and hoary,
With Saint and Angel, ox and ass,
  To hail the King of Glory.

Of her, Emmanuel the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say
Most highly favour'd lady. Gloria!

Performances (1)

December 16, 2011, 8:00 pm (premiere)

The Crossing; Donald Nally, director; Scott Dettra, organ The Choir of St. Paul's Church; Zachary Hemenway, director St. Paul's Church, Chestnut Hill, PA