Music Monday: Long the Night

For our Christmas Music Monday, I want to present a little-known song of Ukrainian origin set to English words, and here sung by Hereford Cathedral Choir. According to the CD notes, Dr. Roy Massey (who was, at that time, the principal organist and choirmaster at Hereford Cathedral) heard this tune when a Ukrainian choir visited. He asked Alick Rowe to write English words, while he composed the choral arrangement.

It’s a beautiful melody, and Dr. Massey’s arrangement fits so well. Rowe’s words reflect on the scene of Mary at the manger in light of the cross. The music is so atmospheric, and lends itself well to both that sense of wonder on the first Christmas night, as well as the sense of grief on Good Friday.

I hope this contemplative song adds some depth and meaning to your Christmas celebrations this week.

Here are the words:

Long the night but kind the dawn
In Bethlehem where her son was born.
She touched his side and stroked his head
As she gently laid him to bed.
She held his hands, she kissed his feet,
She sang to see a sight so sweet:
In excelsis gloria.
She held his hands, she kissed his feet,
She sang to see a sight so sweet:
In excelsis gloria.

In the hills the iron lay
What men would beat into nails one day,
Where the thorn tree roots go down
That men would twist to a crown.
In the wood where an axe would ring
To cut a cross that would bear a king,
Mary’s voice rose from afar.
In the wood where an axe would ring
To cut a cross that would bear a king,
Mary’s voice rose from afar:
In excelsis gloria.

And here’s the song (solo sung by Matthew Pochin):